Zips Enter Third MAC Series with an Even Slate

Friday, March 25

Ypsilanti, Mich.

1:00 PM

University of Akron

Eastern Michigan University

March 23 | Baseball

Zips Enter Third MAC Series with an Even Slate
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Akron travels to Oestrike Stadium in Ypsilanti, Mich. for a four-game series with the Eagles of Eastern Michigan after splitting two-consecutive series with Toledo and Northern Illinois.

Akron Zips [5-12, 4-4 MAC] vs Eastern Michigan [5-12, 1-3 MAC]
Friday-Sunday, March 25-27 | Oestrike Stadium| Ypsilanti, Mich.

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

WHAT'S AHEAD
Akron baseball continues Mid-American Conference play on the road against Eastern Michigan after splitting the first two series of the season at home against Toledo and Northern Illinois. First pitch of Friday, March 25 adjusted schedule doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m., followed by one game each both Saturday, March 26, and Sunday, March 27. Game time for Saturday will be determined Friday evening based on weather but is anticipated to begin at 2 p.m. Sunday's finale will begin at 1 p.m. Fans can follow the action via live stats on GoZips.com.

Under the guidance of third-year head coach Chris Sabo, the Zips own a 5-12 overall record, defeating Toledo and Northern Illinois twice for a pair of MAC series splits en route to a 4-4 league mark. In addition, the Zips claimed the final game of the Lipscomb series before dropping four games to No. 15 Georgia and three games to Louisville.

Akron is hitting .239 as a team with 128 hits, including a .248 in league average with 59 hits. The Zips have hit 12-of-21 doubled during the last eight games and scored 28-of-60 runs in the same time frame.

In MAC play, senior Tate Wargo (.400 BA) leads the Zips offensive attack. He recorded eight hits in his last 20 at-bats with two doubles, three runs scored and four RBI. Wargo is 14-of-44 on the season with seven RBI and five runs scored. Also racking up eight hits in league play are freshmen Michael Sprockett (.348 BA, 8-of-23) and Cameron Benson (.250 BA, 8-of-32). Sprockett currently leads the team in average (.316 BA, 12-of-38) and Benson follows (.302 BA, 19-of-63).

On the mound, senior Conor Steinbaugh (4.35 ERA), sophomore Anthony Fett (6.56 ERA) and senior Taed Heydinger (7.50 ERA) lead the way. Steinbaugh is 1-0 in league play with a 0.84 ERA in 10.2 innings pitched, allowing one earned run on five hits and two walks while striking out five batters. Fett has thrown 10.0 innings in conference play, allowing six runs on 11 hits with five strikeouts and six walks, while Heydinger is 1-1 with a team-best 9 K's in league play and 17 K's on the season.

Eastern Michigan
EMU enters the weekend with an overall record of 5-12 and 1-3 in MAC play. The Eagles are coming off a 2-1 series mark against Butler last weekend and dropped a midweek contest to Oakland at Oestrike Stadium, 5-4.

The Eagles open league play with a .274 team batting average, scattering 159 hits with 53 extra-base hits including 24 homeruns, 24 doubles and five triples. Matt Kirk lead the offensive efforts with a .391 batting average, .710 slugging percentage and a team-best 27 hits and 16 RBI. He recorded a team-high seven doubles with a second-best five homeruns and scored 14 runs. Shane Easter is second in the hit column (20 Hits), driving runs in (13 RBI) and batting average (.317 BA). Brady Hebbe and Taylor Hopkins each have 17 hits and register .258 and .243 batting Averages, respectively. Gabe Denton owns a team-high seven bombs, clearing the playing surface half of his total hits on the season.

On the mound, starters Adam Falinski (3.67 ERA) and Zach Fruit (4.70 ERA) leads the staff in innings pitched with 27.0 and 23.0, respectively. Falinski owns a team-high 23 strikeouts while allowing 13 runs on 20 hits with 17 free passes. Fruit struck out 13 batters, allowed 13 runs and 25 hits. In addition, Thomas House, also a starter, has thrown 19.1 innings with a second-best 21 strikeouts. He allowed 14 runs on 20 hits and 20 walks.

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)