The University of Akron Athletics
Friday, March 25
Kent, OH
12:00 PM
University of Akron
at
Kent State University
Zips Softball Travels to Kent State for Rivalry Series
March 24 | Softball
AKRON, Ohio- The Akron softball team (6-18, 1-2 MAC) will travel to Kent State this weekend for a rivalry series beginning on Friday, March 25 for a doubleheader, followed by a single game on Saturday, March 26. The winner of the three-game series will earn a point in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge.
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GAME INFO
The Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge is based on a time-honored competition for an historic wooden wagon wheel trophy awarded originally in 1945 to the winner of the annual Akron-Kent State football game. Prior to the 2011-12 academic year, the rivalry was broadened to include NCAA varsity sports sponsored by both schools, with victories in each sport adding one point to the challenge standings. The school that accumulates the most total points in all varsity matchups for each academic year is presented with an overall series trophy.
Akron enters the weekend with a slim 4.5-4.0 lead this year.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State holds an 84-47-1 all-time series advantage over Akron. The Flashes have won six-straight contests, including a four-game sweep last season.
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SCOUTING AKRON
Akron enters its 45th season of intercollegiate competition in 2022. The Zips return 18 players from the Zips' 2021 squad and have added eight newcomers to the 2022 roster.
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Akron returns  two of their top-four hitter from a year ago in sophomore OF Molly McChesney (Verona, Wis.) who led the offensive exploits last season batting a team-best .260 on the strength of team-high marks in hits (26), runs (17) and stolen bases (15), while ranking second in triples (1). Sophomore Tiffany Stevens (Toledo, Ohio) led the team with nine doubles, while sophomore Laurel DeVoe (North Canton, Ohio) owned a team-best six home runs.
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The Zips return a A trio of Akron pitchers have tossed 50 or more innings in the circle, including 98.1, 87.1 and 84.2innings, respectively, from sophomore P Olivia Stefanoni (Hudson, Ohio), senior P Olivia Otani (Canton, Ohio) and redshirt junior Lexie Petrof (Ligonier, Pa.). Stefanoni, Petrof and Otani earned 101, 59 and 47 strikeouts, respectively.
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Joining the roster in 2022 are eight newcomers; freshman OF Leea Ibarra (Findlay, Ohio), OF Angela Cirone (Louisville, Ohio), INF Lexi Campbell (Indianapolis, Ind.), OF Autumn Bailey (Ashland, Ohio), P  Emily Farlin (Stanton, Calif.), INF McKenzie Cornwell (Amherst, Ohio), C/OF Megan Cotton (Sammamish, Wash.), and P Elizabeth Frederick (Williamsburg, Pa.).
The Zips stand 6-18 overall and 1-2 in conference play after sweeping a doubleheader with Robert Morris on Tuesday. Akron earned a 7-2 victory in game one, followed by a 9-4 win in the second game.
Sophomore Jaiden Bryant (Hilliard, Ohio) led the Zips' bats with a 2-run homer in the opening game, followed by a grand slam in the second game.  Junior Morgan Cadmus (Canton, Ohio) hit her first homer of the year, while sophomore Carley Auten (Pickerington, Ohio) also hit a homer in the series.
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For the season, McChesney leads Akron with 21 hits and a .344 batting average. Bryant has drove in a team-high 11 RBI and has hit three homers. Cirone leads the team with eight stolen bases, while McChesney and Bryant each have a pair.
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In the circle, Petrof stands 3-5 overall and has pitched 43.1 innings. She has struck out 40 batters and holds a 4.52 ERA.
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SCOUTING KENT STATE
Kent State stands 6-12 overall and 0-3 in league play after dropping a three-game series against Miami last weekend. Savannah Wing leads the Flashes with 11 hits and a .297 batting average. She has one homer and leads the team with six RBI. Brooklyn Whitt has stolen a team-high three bases.
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In the circle, Jessica LeBeau has pitched 40.1 innings and holds a 2.78 ERA. She has 57 strikeouts and stands 3-5 overall.
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UP NEXT
Akron will return to action on Tuesday, March 29 as the Zips host Marshall for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.
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GAME INFO
- Game 1: Akron vs. Kent State – Fri., March 25; 12 PM (Live Stats | Video )
- Game 2: Akron vs. Kent State – Fri., March 25; 2 PM (Live Stats | Video )
- Game 3: Akron vs. Kent State – Sat., March 26; 12 Pm (Live Stats |Video )
The Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge is based on a time-honored competition for an historic wooden wagon wheel trophy awarded originally in 1945 to the winner of the annual Akron-Kent State football game. Prior to the 2011-12 academic year, the rivalry was broadened to include NCAA varsity sports sponsored by both schools, with victories in each sport adding one point to the challenge standings. The school that accumulates the most total points in all varsity matchups for each academic year is presented with an overall series trophy.
Akron enters the weekend with a slim 4.5-4.0 lead this year.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State holds an 84-47-1 all-time series advantage over Akron. The Flashes have won six-straight contests, including a four-game sweep last season.
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SCOUTING AKRON
Akron enters its 45th season of intercollegiate competition in 2022. The Zips return 18 players from the Zips' 2021 squad and have added eight newcomers to the 2022 roster.
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Akron returns  two of their top-four hitter from a year ago in sophomore OF Molly McChesney (Verona, Wis.) who led the offensive exploits last season batting a team-best .260 on the strength of team-high marks in hits (26), runs (17) and stolen bases (15), while ranking second in triples (1). Sophomore Tiffany Stevens (Toledo, Ohio) led the team with nine doubles, while sophomore Laurel DeVoe (North Canton, Ohio) owned a team-best six home runs.
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The Zips return a A trio of Akron pitchers have tossed 50 or more innings in the circle, including 98.1, 87.1 and 84.2innings, respectively, from sophomore P Olivia Stefanoni (Hudson, Ohio), senior P Olivia Otani (Canton, Ohio) and redshirt junior Lexie Petrof (Ligonier, Pa.). Stefanoni, Petrof and Otani earned 101, 59 and 47 strikeouts, respectively.
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Joining the roster in 2022 are eight newcomers; freshman OF Leea Ibarra (Findlay, Ohio), OF Angela Cirone (Louisville, Ohio), INF Lexi Campbell (Indianapolis, Ind.), OF Autumn Bailey (Ashland, Ohio), P  Emily Farlin (Stanton, Calif.), INF McKenzie Cornwell (Amherst, Ohio), C/OF Megan Cotton (Sammamish, Wash.), and P Elizabeth Frederick (Williamsburg, Pa.).
The Zips stand 6-18 overall and 1-2 in conference play after sweeping a doubleheader with Robert Morris on Tuesday. Akron earned a 7-2 victory in game one, followed by a 9-4 win in the second game.
Sophomore Jaiden Bryant (Hilliard, Ohio) led the Zips' bats with a 2-run homer in the opening game, followed by a grand slam in the second game.  Junior Morgan Cadmus (Canton, Ohio) hit her first homer of the year, while sophomore Carley Auten (Pickerington, Ohio) also hit a homer in the series.
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For the season, McChesney leads Akron with 21 hits and a .344 batting average. Bryant has drove in a team-high 11 RBI and has hit three homers. Cirone leads the team with eight stolen bases, while McChesney and Bryant each have a pair.
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In the circle, Petrof stands 3-5 overall and has pitched 43.1 innings. She has struck out 40 batters and holds a 4.52 ERA.
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SCOUTING KENT STATE
Kent State stands 6-12 overall and 0-3 in league play after dropping a three-game series against Miami last weekend. Savannah Wing leads the Flashes with 11 hits and a .297 batting average. She has one homer and leads the team with six RBI. Brooklyn Whitt has stolen a team-high three bases.
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In the circle, Jessica LeBeau has pitched 40.1 innings and holds a 2.78 ERA. She has 57 strikeouts and stands 3-5 overall.
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UP NEXT
Akron will return to action on Tuesday, March 29 as the Zips host Marshall for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.
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Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C/OF
/ Softball
C/3B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P/1B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
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