Zips Win 9-8 to Claim #MACtion Series Against Ohio

Sunday, May 16

Akron, Ohio

Noon

University of Akron

14-32, 8-28

Ohio

25-20, 16-16

OHIO

AKRON

Zips Win 9-8 to Claim #MACtion Series Against Ohio

May 16 | Baseball

Box Score

Zips Win 9-8 to Claim #MACtion Series Against Ohio
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Akron, Ohio – The Akron Zips received a game-winning RBI double by junior Jerry Reinhart (Batavia, N.Y.) to claim the series against Ohio in a 9-8 see-saw battle game four victory at Skeeles Field on Sunday.

Prior to the game Akron recognized its graduating seniors for the first time since 2015 as John Creel, Austin Domer, Tyler Gault, Mark Meyer, Josh Nowak and Connor Regan prepared for their final game at Skeeles Field.

The back-and-forth battle marks Akron's first Mid-American Conference series win since 2015, as the Zips were led by senior Austin Domer (Orrville, Ohio) with a 2-for-5 performance which included three RBI and a run scored. Junior Bryant Shellenbarger (Mount Vernon, Ohio) also delivered two hits in four at-bats with an RBI and two runs scored. Eight additional Zips sprayed hits Domer, Reinhart, Shellenbarger and junior Bradley Goulet (Cottage Grove, Minn) collected doubles.

Senior pitcher Mark Meyer (Cincinnati, Ohio) earned the win after Ohio tied the game in the eighth inning as a result of an Akron fielding error. Meyer threw two innings, allowing three hits with three strikeouts and no walks or earned runs.

Ohio started the scoring in the second inning as Mason Minzey drew a two-out walk and Spencer Harbert sent a double down the left field line to score Minzey from first base.

In the bottom half of the inning, Shellenbarger blasted a double of the right center field wall and junior Justin Barr (Pensacola, Fla.) followed with an RBI single to right field to tie the game, 1-1. Freshman Kaito Hara (Houston, Texas) added a sacrifice flyout to left center field, plating Shellenbarger for a 2-1 Zips advantage.

The Bobcats tied the game in the third inning after a lead-off double down the left field line led to a well-executed safety squeeze to tie the game, 2-2. Ohio left one runner on base.

Akron responded in the third inning. After being down 1-2 in the count, Reinhart drew a walk to open the inning for the Zips. Reinhart advanced to second base on a groundout and scored when senior Connor Regan (Sagamore Hills, Ohio) used an eight-pitch at-bat to lace an RBI line drive into center field for Akron's third run, 3-2.

Ohio tied the game in the fourth inning with one swing of the bat as Aaron Levy sent a deep fly ball over the right field fence. The Bobcats scored a second run to reclaim a 4-3 lead, but Akron immediately responded as Barr walked and scored on an Domer groundout in front of second base.

With the game tied 4-4, Akron exploded for four runs in the fifth inning. Goulet led-off the fifth inning with a double off the left field fence and junior Cameron Tilly (Canberra, Australia) singled to third base to put runners at first and second. Shellenbarger and Domer issued the RBI singles to lift Akron to an 8-4 advantage.

Ohio scored one run in the sixth to cut the Zips lead to 8-5 and added two in the seventh before knotting the game in the eighth inning.

Akron answered in the eighth with a run as Hara's infield singled led to the game-winning run. With two outs, Reinhart sent a fly ball over the right fielder's head for an RBI double which proved to be enough for the 9-8 win. Meyer issued two strikeouts in the top of the ninth inning to secure the Zips 3-1 series victory.

Akron will be back in action on Tuesday, May 18 against Pitt at Charles L. Cost Field in Pittsburgh, Pa. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. and fans can follow the action on the ACC Network or via live stats on GoZips.com.