Akron Opens BGSU Series with 6-3 Win

Friday, March 26

Akron, Ohio

3 PM

University of Akron

9-3, 3-2

Bowling Green

5-10, 3-2

Bowling Green

AKRON

March 27 | Baseball

Box Score

Akron Opens BGSU Series with 6-3 Win
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GAME COVERAGE
Saturday, March 27 vs. Bowling Green | Noon | Live Stats | Live Stream
Saturday, March 27 vs. Bowling Green | 3 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Stream
Sunday, March 28 vs. Bowling Green | Noon | Live Stats | Live Stream

AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Zips baseball team used nine hits to generate six runs behind another stellar performance by the pitching staff for a 6-3 win to open the Mid-American Conference series against Bowling Green on Friday at Skeeles Field.

Starting pitcher Conor Steinbaugh earned the win with seven innings pitched. He faced 25 batters while allowing two runs, one earned run, on two hits with nine strikeouts and no walks. Collectively, the pitching staff limited the Falcons to five hits with 12 strikeouts, one walk and one hit batsman.

Senior catcher Connor Regan (Sagamore Hills, Ohio) led the offensive unit with a 2-for-4 performance which included an RBI. Junior Bryant Shellenbarger (Mount Vernon, Ohio) drove in two runs on a 1-of-3 showing from the plate as juniors Justin Barr (Pensacola, Fla.) and Jerry Reinhart (Batavia, N.Y.) distributed the Zips' extra-base hits. Barr recorded an RBI doubled in a 1-of-3 effort and Reinhart homered while finishing 1-for-4.

In the first inning, the Falcons reached third base and scored on a passed ball as Steinbaugh registered the first of nine strike outs to end the inning. He fanned two in the second inning and gave up his first hit, but the Falcons could not push the run across the plate.

In the bottom of the third, the Zips scored four runs, including three runs with two outs. Junior Austin Domer (Orrville, Ohio) scored the Zips first run and tied the game 1-1 after working the count for a free pass. Shellenbarger followed by sending a line drive down the first base line and the BGSU fielder dove to stop the ball from going to the outfield. Domer advanced to third on the play and Reinhart recorded the Zips' initial RBI on a groundout to first base. With two outs, Barr walked and junior Zac Granger (Elmira, N.Y.), Regan and graduate Josh Nowak (Chicago, Ill.) all sent RBI singles to the outfield. After three innings Akron led 4-1.

Bowling Green homered in the fourth, but Akron retaliated with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Again, with two outs, Akron plated runs as Shellenbarger was hit by a pitch and Reinhart cleared the playing surface with a drive over the left field fence. The Falcons scored in the eighth, but Akron held on for the 6-3 as senior Mark Meyer (Cincinnati, Ohio) earned the save with 1.1 innings pitched, allowing no hits with one strikeout in four batters faced.

Akron continues the series against Bowling Green on Saturday, March 27 with a Noon doubleheader. Game two is slated for 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Fans can follow the action on Zips Digital Network or via live stats on GoZips.com.