Akron Opens #MACtion Against Toledo at Skeeles Field

Friday, March 11

Akron, Ohio

Noon

University of Akron

University of Toledo

Akron Opens #MACtion Against Toledo at Skeeles Field

March 11 | Baseball

Akron Opens #MACtion Against Toledo at Skeeles Field
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Akron hosts the Toledo for the 2022 MAC Opener and Weekend Series at Skeeles Field.

Akron Zips [1-8, 0-0 MAC] vs Toledo [5-6, 0-0 MAC]
Friday-Sunday,March 11-13 | Skeeles Field | Akron, Ohio

GAME COVERAGE
Live Stats - https://bit.ly/3efnu22

WHAT'S AHEAD
The Akron baseball opens Mid-American Conference play against Toledo on Friday, March 11 at Skeeles Field. First pitch of the #MACtion doubleheader is slated for noon and the nightcap of the doubleheader will start approximately 30 minutes after game one. Due to weather concerns, the Zips have Saturday and Sunday, March 12-13 to get the final two games of the series played. Fans can follow the action via live stats on GoZips.com. Links are also available on the baseball schedule page.

Under the guidance of third-year head coach Chris Sabo, the Zips own a 1-8 overall record, defeating Eastern Michigan twice for a series split and Bowling Green once posting a 1-3 series record, claiming the final game of the Lipscomb series before dropping four games to No. 15 Georgia and three games to Louisville.

Junior Breydan Cavey leads the Zips' offensive efforts with a .389 batting average, collecting seven hits in 18 at-bats with a homerun, double and four RBI. Freshman SS Cameron Benson follows with a .355 average and owns a team-high 11 hits with two bombs, a triple and a double and a .645 slugging percentage, generating a team-high nine RBI. Graduate student Nick Arrivo is the third Zip hitting .300 or better, posting a .303 BA with a second-best 10 total hits and five RBI.

On the mound, sophomore Anthony Fett (7.43 ERA), senior Taed Heydinger (9.49 ERA) and senior Connor Steinbaugh (8.10 ERA) have collected the most innings pitched at 13.1, 12.1 and 10.0, respectively. Fett allowed 11 runs on 15 hits with a team-high 10 strikeouts and three walks, while Heydinger allowed 14 runs on 18 hits with a second-best 8 K's. Steinbaugh six strikeouts with 13 hits for 10 earned runs.

Toledo Rockets
Toledo enters the weekend with an overall record of 5-6 overall. The Rockets are coming off a 1-3 series mark against Elon last weekend after claiming a 3-1 series win over High Point. Toledo has won at least one game in each series this season, Belmont (1-4).

UT opens league play with Mason Sykes (.429) and Jeron Williams (.341) leading the Rockets' offensive efforts. Sykes is 18-of-42 in 11 games with a team-best four homeruns, double and 14 RBI, while Williams collected 15 hits on 44 at-bats with four RBI and two doubles.

On the mound, Kyle Jones (2.37 ERA) leads the way with 19.0 innings pitched with a 3-0 record. Jones fanned 24 batters with only two free passes and allowed on five runs. Connor Brandon (4.50 ERA) follows with 110.0innings of work and a 1-3 record. He owns a second-best 13 strikeouts.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Akron opens its 119th season in 2022. With the resurrection of baseball in 2020 season on the University of Akron campus came the renovation of its home field.

A part of the Lee R. Jackson Athletics Complex, Skeeles Field underwent major renovation in the Fall of 2019. Thanks to the generous gift from Bill '77 and Mary Skeeles, the new playing surface is 110,00 square feet of playing area covered with Sprinturf Ultra-blade, including the pitching mound, batter's box, and bullpens. A complete re-grading of the infield surface took place first before a drainage system was added. A 25-foot Daktronics inning-by-inning scoreboard will be installed in March 2020. Future additions include bleacher seating and a pressbox.

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)