Cardinals Open Series with 7-3 Win Over Akron

Friday, April 9

Akron, Ohio

3 PM

University of Akron

9-13, 3-10

Ball State

16-9, 7-2

Ball State

AKRON

April 09 | Baseball

Box Score

Cardinals Open Series with 7-3 Win Over Akron
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Box Score PDF

AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Zips dropped the series opener to Ball State 7-3 on Friday afternoon at Skeeles Field.

Akron recorded eight hits and plated seven runs as junior Justin Barr (Pensacola, Fla.) and junior Bryant Shellenbarger (Mount Vernon, Ohio) led the Zips' offense with two hits each. Barr cleared the playing surface in the third inning to give Akron its first run of the game and added a single to centerfield in the ninth inning to cap a 2-for-4 effort with an RBI and run scored. Shellenbarger delivered two singles and scored a run. Junior Bradley Goulet (Cottage Grove, Minn.) recorded the RBI single to centerfield to drive in Shellenbarger.

The Cardinals (16-9, 7-2 MAC) started the scoring, crossing the plate in the second and third innings for a 2-0 advantage. Barr cut the Zips (9-13, 3-10 MAC) deficit in half with his solo homerun to left field in the bottom half of the inning, 2-1.

The game remained 2-1 in the Cardinals favor until Ball State added a pair of runs in the fifth inning on three hits for a 4-1 lead. Akron responded in the bottom of the sixth inning as Akron scattered three hits to the outfield. Junior Tate Wargo (Benld, Ill.), led-off the inning with a single to left field and junior Zac Granger (Elmira, N.Y.) moved him to third on a single to right field. Senior Connor Regan (Sagamore Hills, Ohio) followed with a single to right, scoring Wargo and sending Granger to third base. The rally stalled as the Zips pushed one run across the plate to trail 4-2.

Ball State added three insurance runs in the ninth inning, receiving a solo homerun to right-center field and a two-out double with bases loaded to extend the lead to 7-2. Akron answered with one run in the last inning as Shellenbarger opened the final frame with a single to left field. Junior Jerry Reinhart (Batavia, N.Y.) moved Shellenbarger to third base on a groundout and Goulet sent a shot up the middle for the Zips final RBI of the game.

Akron starting pitcher freshman Anthony Fett (Orchard Lake) was credited with the loss, allowing four runs on five hits in five innings of work. Ball State starting pitcher John Barker earned the win, throwing eight complete innings while allowing six hits and two runs with eight strikeouts and a walk.

The Akron-Ball State series continues with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 10 at Skeeles Field. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m., and fans can follow the action on Zips Digital Network live stream or via live stats on GoZips.com.

Game Coverage
Saturday, April 10 vs. Ball State | 11 a.m. | Live Stats | Live Stream
Saturday, April 10 vs. Ball State | 2 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Stream
Sunday, April 11 vs. Ball State | Noon | Live Stats | Live Stream