The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Softball Set to Open 2023 Campaign in Texas
February 16 | Softball
AKRON, Ohio -Â The University of Akron women's softball squad under the direction of first-year head coach Craig Nicholson is set to open its 2023 campaign this weekend at the Tarleton Invitational hosted by Tarleton State in Stephenville, Texas. The Zips compete against Creighton, Northern Colorado, Texas A&M-Commerce and the host Texans.
WHAT'S AHEAD:
Akron will face Creighton and Texas A&M-Commerce at 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 17. The Zips open second-day action battling Tarleton State and Creighton at 5:15 and 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 18. Akron caps tournament play squaring off against Northern Colorado at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 19.
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Feb. 17 vs. Creighton | 10 a.m. ET | Live Stats | Live Stream
Feb. 17 vs. Texas A&M-Commerce | 12:45 p.m. ET | Live Stats | Live Stream
Feb. 18 at Tarleton State | 5:15 p.m. ET | Live Stats | Live Stream
Feb. 18 vs. Creighton | 7:30 p.m. ET | Live Stats | Live Stream
Feb. 19 vs. Northern Colorado | 10 a.m. ET | Live Stats | Live Stream
SCOUTING AKRON:
Akron is in its 47th season of intercollegiate competition in 2023. Under the direction of first-year head coach Craig Nicholson, the Zips returned 18 players from the Zips' 2022 squad and have added six newcomers to the 2023 roster.
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Sophomore INF Alexis Campbell (Indianapolis, Ind.) led the offensive exploits for the Zips last season batting a team-best .313 on the strength of team-high marks in hits (47), doubles (11) and RBI (24), while ranking second in total bases (61) and third in assists (74) and runs (19). Additionally, redshirt junior INF Jaiden Bryant (Hilliard, Ohio) belted a team-best eight home runs.
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A pair of returning Akron pitchers tossed 50 or more innings in the circle, including 55.1 and 52.0 innings, respectively, from redshirt senior P Alexa DiFeo (Akron, Ohio) and redshirt senior P Olivia Otani (Canton, Ohio). DiFeo and Otani posted 55 and 30 strikeouts, respectively.
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SCOUTING CREIGHTON:
Creighton enters play against Akron at 2-2 on the year following a pair of wins last weekend at the DePaul Dome Tournament. Kailey Wilson owns team-best .500 batting average and paces the Bluejays in hits (6), doubles (4), home runs (1), RBI (5) and walks (3), while Sydra Seville leads Creighton in at-bats (16), runs (5), hits (6). In the circle, the trio of Jena Lawrence, Alexis Wiggins and Natalia Puchino have combined to pitch 22.2 innings and maintain 0.00, 3.75 and 5.44 ERA's, respectively, en route to striking out 24 batters.
SCOUTING NORTHERN COLORADO:
Northern Colorado comes into play versus Akron at 2-3 on the year on the strength of a pair of victories at the La Jolla Invitational last weekend. Alexsi Barashkoff boasts a team-best .417 batting average and directs the Bears in hits (5) and RBI (3). On the mound, Erin Caviness and Isabelle DiNapoli hold identical 2.33 ERA's having combined to toss 30.0 innings and strike 38 batters.
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SCOUTING TARLETON STATE:
Tarleton State enters play against Akron at 4-3 on the campaign following a doubleheader sweep of Prairie View A&M on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Mackenzie Peterson owns team-best .417 batting average and paces the Texans in doubles (2), while Kelci Hill leads Kent State in at-bats (23), hits (9) and doubles (2), while ranking second in total bases (13). In the circle, Kennedy Ferguson maintains a 2.06 ERA, having tossed 17.0 innings en route to striking out 13 batters.
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SCOUTING TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE:
Texas A&M-Commerce enters play against Akron at 0-5 on the year. Diamond Sefe owns team-best .455 batting average and paces the Lions in hits (5), doubles (1), homer runs (1) and total bases (9). On the mound, Anissa Arredondo maintains a 11.90 ERA, having tossed 10.0 innings en route to striking out a pair of batters.
SERIES HISTORY:
Akron is set to meet Creighton for the sixth and seventh times, respectively, in program history, with the Bluejays leading the series, 4-1. The Zips have encountered Northern Colorado twice previously with the Bears owning a 2-0 series advantage. Akron is meeting Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Commerce for the first time in program history.
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AKRON NOTES:
• The Zips have been a member of the Mid-American Conference for the past 30 years after joining the league in 1993 from the North Star Conference.
• Akron's softball roster in 2023 is compiled of 24 student-athletes from across the United States with seven different states and one Canadian Province represented. The Zips roster consists of 14 players from Ohio, three from California, two from Texas and one each from Indiana, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin.
• The 2023 season marks the 47th season of intercollegiate competition for the Akron softball program.Â
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UP NEXT:
Akron travels to Chattanooga, Tenn., to compete in the Frost Classic hosted by Tennessee at Chattanooga, Feb. 24-26.
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WHAT'S AHEAD:
Akron will face Creighton and Texas A&M-Commerce at 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 17. The Zips open second-day action battling Tarleton State and Creighton at 5:15 and 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 18. Akron caps tournament play squaring off against Northern Colorado at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 19.
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Feb. 17 vs. Creighton | 10 a.m. ET | Live Stats | Live Stream
Feb. 17 vs. Texas A&M-Commerce | 12:45 p.m. ET | Live Stats | Live Stream
Feb. 18 at Tarleton State | 5:15 p.m. ET | Live Stats | Live Stream
Feb. 18 vs. Creighton | 7:30 p.m. ET | Live Stats | Live Stream
Feb. 19 vs. Northern Colorado | 10 a.m. ET | Live Stats | Live Stream
SCOUTING AKRON:
Akron is in its 47th season of intercollegiate competition in 2023. Under the direction of first-year head coach Craig Nicholson, the Zips returned 18 players from the Zips' 2022 squad and have added six newcomers to the 2023 roster.
Â
Sophomore INF Alexis Campbell (Indianapolis, Ind.) led the offensive exploits for the Zips last season batting a team-best .313 on the strength of team-high marks in hits (47), doubles (11) and RBI (24), while ranking second in total bases (61) and third in assists (74) and runs (19). Additionally, redshirt junior INF Jaiden Bryant (Hilliard, Ohio) belted a team-best eight home runs.
Â
A pair of returning Akron pitchers tossed 50 or more innings in the circle, including 55.1 and 52.0 innings, respectively, from redshirt senior P Alexa DiFeo (Akron, Ohio) and redshirt senior P Olivia Otani (Canton, Ohio). DiFeo and Otani posted 55 and 30 strikeouts, respectively.
Â
SCOUTING CREIGHTON:
Creighton enters play against Akron at 2-2 on the year following a pair of wins last weekend at the DePaul Dome Tournament. Kailey Wilson owns team-best .500 batting average and paces the Bluejays in hits (6), doubles (4), home runs (1), RBI (5) and walks (3), while Sydra Seville leads Creighton in at-bats (16), runs (5), hits (6). In the circle, the trio of Jena Lawrence, Alexis Wiggins and Natalia Puchino have combined to pitch 22.2 innings and maintain 0.00, 3.75 and 5.44 ERA's, respectively, en route to striking out 24 batters.
SCOUTING NORTHERN COLORADO:
Northern Colorado comes into play versus Akron at 2-3 on the year on the strength of a pair of victories at the La Jolla Invitational last weekend. Alexsi Barashkoff boasts a team-best .417 batting average and directs the Bears in hits (5) and RBI (3). On the mound, Erin Caviness and Isabelle DiNapoli hold identical 2.33 ERA's having combined to toss 30.0 innings and strike 38 batters.
Â
SCOUTING TARLETON STATE:
Tarleton State enters play against Akron at 4-3 on the campaign following a doubleheader sweep of Prairie View A&M on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Mackenzie Peterson owns team-best .417 batting average and paces the Texans in doubles (2), while Kelci Hill leads Kent State in at-bats (23), hits (9) and doubles (2), while ranking second in total bases (13). In the circle, Kennedy Ferguson maintains a 2.06 ERA, having tossed 17.0 innings en route to striking out 13 batters.
Â
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE:
Texas A&M-Commerce enters play against Akron at 0-5 on the year. Diamond Sefe owns team-best .455 batting average and paces the Lions in hits (5), doubles (1), homer runs (1) and total bases (9). On the mound, Anissa Arredondo maintains a 11.90 ERA, having tossed 10.0 innings en route to striking out a pair of batters.
SERIES HISTORY:
Akron is set to meet Creighton for the sixth and seventh times, respectively, in program history, with the Bluejays leading the series, 4-1. The Zips have encountered Northern Colorado twice previously with the Bears owning a 2-0 series advantage. Akron is meeting Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Commerce for the first time in program history.
Â
AKRON NOTES:
• The Zips have been a member of the Mid-American Conference for the past 30 years after joining the league in 1993 from the North Star Conference.
• Akron's softball roster in 2023 is compiled of 24 student-athletes from across the United States with seven different states and one Canadian Province represented. The Zips roster consists of 14 players from Ohio, three from California, two from Texas and one each from Indiana, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin.
• The 2023 season marks the 47th season of intercollegiate competition for the Akron softball program.Â
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UP NEXT:
Akron travels to Chattanooga, Tenn., to compete in the Frost Classic hosted by Tennessee at Chattanooga, Feb. 24-26.
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Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
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