The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
1-0
Western Carolina
0-1
Akron Baseball Opens Season with 14-12 Win at Western Carolina
February 17 | Baseball
The Zips exploded for six runs in the ninth inning and three runs in the eighth as sophomore Ian Pennington (Springboro, Ohio) and junior RF Jack Firestone (Zionsville, Ind.) and drove in eight of the Zips' 12 RBI as both outfielders collected three hits.
Pennington recorded six RBI on 3-of-5 hitting that included a game-tying grandslam in the ninth inning, knotting the game at 12-12. Pennington sent a 3-1 pitch over the left centerfield fence to tie the game, while sophomore C Michael Sprockett (West Chester, Ohio) followed the game-winning double down the right field line to score pinch runner DJ Butler (Chicago, Ill.). Akron added another insurance run as an infield single by sophomore Caleb Jenkins (Hilliard, Ohio) plated Sprockett.
Firestone plated Akron's first two runs of the season, belting a 2-run homer over the right field fence in the top of the third inning to give Akron a 2-0 advantage. He went 3-for-4 on the day, adding a double and a triple while pushing two runs across the plate and scoring four times.
Junior relief pitcher Yassir Kahook (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) earned the win, facing three batters that resulted in three flyouts. Freshman Emmett Gillies (Columbus, Ohio) earned the save in his collegiate debut.
The series continues with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 18 with the first game slated for Noon and game two scheduled to begin approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kahook, Yassir (1-0)
L: Gavin Mortenson (0-1)
S: Gillies, Emmett (1)
Batting:
2B: Firestone, Jack 1 ; Pennington, Ian 2 ; Sprockett, Michael 1 ; Jenkins, Caleb 1
3B: Firestone, Jack 1
HR: Firestone, Jack 1 ; Pennington, Ian 1
RBI: Firestone, Jack 2 ; Pennington, Ian 6 ; Stolarski, Ty 2 ; Seeker, Sam 1 ; Sprockett, Michael 1 ; Jenkins, Caleb 1
SF: Seeker, Sam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hara, Kaito 1 ; Firestone, Jack 4 ; Arrivo, Nick 3 ; Pennington, Ian 2 ; Butler, DJ 1 ; Seeker, Sam 1 ; Sprockett, Michael 1 ; Poist, Jack 1
SB: Arrivo, Nick 2 ; Poist, Jack 2
Batting:
2B: Pascanel Ferreras 1 ; Brandon Butterworth 1
HR: Kyle Riesselmann 1
RBI: Jordan Starkes 1 ; Zach Ketterman 2 ; Nate Stocum 1 ; Brandon Butterworth 2 ; Kyle Riesselmann 3
SH: Kyle Riesselmann 1
SF: Zach Ketterman 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jordan Starkes 2 ; Pascanel Ferreras 1 ; Nate Stocum 1 ; Jack Spyke 1 ; Brandon Butterworth 1 ; Drew Needham 2 ; Kyle Riesselmann 2 ; Kyle Harbison 2
SB: Jordan Starkes 1
