Akron Earns Doubleheader Split with Buffalo

Saturday, March 20

Akron, Ohio

1:00 PM

University of Akron

2-12, 1-1

Buffalo

3-12, 1-1

Buffalo

Akron

March 20 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

Follow Akron Softball on Facebook and Twitter
Follow Coach Pettipiece on Twitter

GAME ONE BOXSCORE (PDF) | GAME TWO BOXSCORE (PDF) | PHOTO GALLERY

AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron women's softball team earned split of its Mid-American Conference doubleheader with Buffalo (4-12, 2-1 MAC) on Saturday, March 20 at Lee R. Jackson Field on the strength of a 3-0 triumph in the opener.

The Zips (2-13, 1-2 MAC) made the most of their opportunities in the first game as Akron broke open a scoreless contest with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, before plating another tally in their final at-bat in the bottom of the sixth to take a 3-0 decision.

Back-to-back doubles from redshirt freshmen RF Tiffany Stevens (Toledo, Ohio) and 2B Maggie Sons (Dalzell, Ill.) opened the home half of the fifth inning. A sacrifice bunt from senior SS Samantha Malik (Orlando, Fla.) drove in Stevens for what proved to be the game-winning run. A delayed double steal saw Sons cross the plate with the second run.

A pinch-hit two-out home run over the wall in left field from redshirt freshman Laurel DeVoe (North Canton, Ohio) capped the scoring in the tilt for Akron.

Junior P Olivia Otani (Canton, Ohio) allowed only four hits over five innings to notch the victory for the Zips, while redshirt sophomore P Lexie Petrof (Ligonier, Pa.) pitched the final two frames to earn her first save of the season.

In game two, the Bulls scored a single tally in the top of the first inning to assume a 1-0 lead. Buffalo left the bases loaded in the frame thanks to the pitching of freshman Sheridon Wilber (Rock Creek, Ohio) and some a strong throw from senior LF Madison Carter (Newnan, Ga.) to double-up a runner at third base after a fly out to left field.

Akron responded with a two-run surge in the bottom of the second fueled by a two-run home run by Malik, her first of the year.

The Bulls fired back a salvo of their own with a pair of runs in both the third and fourth innings to assume a 5-2 advantage. Buffalo tacked in single tallies in the sixth and seventh frames to secure the victory.

Redshirt freshman CF Molly McChesney (Verona, Wis.) went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Zips in the nightcap, while Malik collected a team-high two RBI.

Akron and Buffalo close out their four-game series with a 12 p.m. contest on Sunday, March 21 at Lee R. Jackson Field.