Zips Baseball Opens Season with a Three-Game Series at Lipscomb

Friday, February 18

Nashville, Tenn.

3:00 PM ET

University of Akron

Lipscomb University

Zips Baseball Opens Season with a Three-Game Series at Lipscomb

February 17 | Baseball

Zips Baseball Opens Season with a Three-Game Series at Lipscomb
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Akron Zips [0-0] vs Lipscomb Bisons [0-0]
Friday-Sunday, Feb. 18-20| Dugan Field | Nashville, Tenn.

Akron travels to Nashville, Tenn. To open the 2021-22 season against Lipscomb University at Dugan Field on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 18-20. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.

GAME COVERAGE
Live Stream – YouTube - https://bit.ly/34IhOeB
Live Stats - https://bit.ly/3LF2AHL

WHAT'S AHEAD
The first pitch of the 2021-22 season is scheduled to be thrown at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 18 as the Akron Zips battle the Lipscomb Bisons at Dugan Field. Fans can follow the action live on via YouTube live stream or Live Stats on GoZips.com.

The Zips open the third season under the guidance of head coach Chris Sabo, the Zips return 21 players and add 15 newcomers to the squad. Akron returns 11-of-16 pitchers, including Conor Steinbaugh (2.89 ERA) who finished the season with a 3-2 overall record in seven appearances and 37.1 innings pitched. Steinbaugh recorded 28 strikeouts with one walk in league play and 39 K's with one walk overall. Stienbaugh limited opponents to a .210 batting average.

Taed Heydinger (5.16 ERA) hurled the most innings pitched (59.1) for the blue and gold with 45 strikeouts and 31 walks in 12 appearances and 11 starts, while opponents only hit .280 against him. Anthony Fett (5.17 ERA) followed with 47.0 innings pitched, 32 K's and 26 BB while earning MAC Player of the Week.

The Zips return 4-of-7 top hitters from a season ago in Bryant Shellenbarger, Justin Barr, Jerry Reinhart and Zac Granger. Shellenbarger started all 49 games and scattered 41 hits around the yard. He delivered 13 RBI with five doubles and a homerun for a .270 batting average.

Reinhart (.234 AVG) and Barr (.232 AVG) both registered 20 RBI on 36 hits each. Reinhart recorded eight doubles and two homeruns, while Barr issued four doubles with three bombs. Reinhart played and started 48 games, while Barr made 47 starting appearances. Granger started 24-of-44 games played and finished the season with 11 RBI on 27 hits, including eight doubles and one homerun.

Lipscomb Bisons
Lipscomb was picked 10th in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll. The Bisons are coming off an 18-29 campaign in 2021 but Head Coach Jeff Forehand (16th season) and company look ahead to the challenge of a new slate of games. Forehand, a Belmont graduate, enters the new year with a 598-562-1 career record as win No. 600 is in his sights.

The Bisons 40-man roster includes, 32 reterners and eight newcomers, including key returners in...

INF | Malik Williams: Williams appeared in 40 games and started in 38 last year. He was third on the team in batting average at .320 with 49 hits and 23 RBIs while scoring 18 runs and drawing eight walks for a .360 on-base percentage. Williams also tied for first on the team in doubles with nine to go with two homers and a .431 slugging percentage.

LHP | Logan Van Treeck: Van Treeck started all 10 of his appearances on the mound a season ago and compiled a 3-2 record with a 5.15 ERA over 43.2 innings of work. He also recorded 47 strikeouts and allowed 23 walks while holding opponents to a .253 batting average. The left-hander logged four putouts and four assists and earned 11 Ks in 2021 against Murray State.

UTL | Chaz Bertolani: Bertolani notched a team-high 28 RBIs and 36 hits for a .269 batting average in 2021. He played in 41 games (37 starts) and scored 15 runs and drew 16 walks to collect a .342 on-base percentage. Bertolani also logged six doubles and one home run. Defensively, he collected 293 putouts and 17 assists on 314 total chances for a .987 fielding percentage.

MAC PREDICTIONS
Central Michigan was selected to win the 2022 Mid-American Conference title in a preseason poll conducted by the league's 11 head coaches.

The MAC baseball season begins on Friday, February 18, while conference play starts up Friday, March 11. For more information visit getsomemaction.com or follow the MAC on Twitter at @MACSports.

2022 MAC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Central Michigan — 115 points (6 first place votes)
2. Ball State — 103 points (1)
3. Kent State — 102 points (2)
4. Western Michigan - 75 points
5. Toledo — 73 points (1)
6. Miami — 68 points (1)
7. Ohio — 58 points
8. Eastern Michigan - 45 points
9. Bowling Green — 40 points
10. Northern Illinois — 36 points
11. Akron — 11 points

Tournament Champions: Central Michigan (4), Kent State (3), Ball State (2), Miami (1), Toledo (1)