The University of Akron Athletics

Akron Baseball Falls to Western Carolina in Doubleheader
February 18 | Baseball
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Akron Zips fell to 1-2 in the series against Western Carolina by scores of 6-1 and 11-6, despite tying up the second game in the top of the 6th inning on Saturday at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
In game one, junior RF Jack Firestone (Zionsville, IND) recorded the Zips only run with a solo home run in the first inning. Sophomore CF Ian Pennington (Springboro, Ohio) tripled in the same inning, but couldn't plate a run. The Zips added on four more hits before the game ended.
Western Carolina plated three runs in the bottom of the second inning to establish a 3-1 lead, and never relinquished it. The Catamounts added three runs in the fifth and sixth inning to cap the seven-inning contest.
In the second game, the Zips touched the scoreboard first again. With bases loaded in the first, junior LF Sam Seeker (Norton, OH) reached on a fielding error which sent a run across the plate.
An inning later, the Zips plated two more runs as Senior 2B Kaito Hara (Houston, TX) doubled down the line for an RBI scored on throwing error.
With a 3-0 lead, Western Carolina plated 4 runs in the bottom of the third inning. The Catamounts added to their lead in the fifth and sixth inning, with RBI singles by Kyle Harbison and Drew Needham.
Junior LF Sam Seeker (Norton, OH) issued a solo-homerun in the sixth and Firestone tied the game in the seventh with a two-run blast, 6-6. In the bottom, half of the seventh, Western Carolina answered with two runs and tacked on three more in the eighth to secure the game.
The series concludes on Sunday, February 19th with first pitch slated for 1:00 PM.
In game one, junior RF Jack Firestone (Zionsville, IND) recorded the Zips only run with a solo home run in the first inning. Sophomore CF Ian Pennington (Springboro, Ohio) tripled in the same inning, but couldn't plate a run. The Zips added on four more hits before the game ended.
Western Carolina plated three runs in the bottom of the second inning to establish a 3-1 lead, and never relinquished it. The Catamounts added three runs in the fifth and sixth inning to cap the seven-inning contest.
In the second game, the Zips touched the scoreboard first again. With bases loaded in the first, junior LF Sam Seeker (Norton, OH) reached on a fielding error which sent a run across the plate.
An inning later, the Zips plated two more runs as Senior 2B Kaito Hara (Houston, TX) doubled down the line for an RBI scored on throwing error.
With a 3-0 lead, Western Carolina plated 4 runs in the bottom of the third inning. The Catamounts added to their lead in the fifth and sixth inning, with RBI singles by Kyle Harbison and Drew Needham.
Junior LF Sam Seeker (Norton, OH) issued a solo-homerun in the sixth and Firestone tied the game in the seventh with a two-run blast, 6-6. In the bottom, half of the seventh, Western Carolina answered with two runs and tacked on three more in the eighth to secure the game.
The series concludes on Sunday, February 19th with first pitch slated for 1:00 PM.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Matt Schepel (1-0)
L: Atkins, Spencer (0-1)

Batting:
2B: Arrivo, Nick 1
3B: Pennington, Ian 1
HR: Firestone, Jack 1
RBI: Firestone, Jack 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Firestone, Jack 1
CS: Hara, Kaito 1
PO: Sprockett, Michael 1

Batting:
2B: Zach Ketterman 1 ; Drew Needham 1
RBI: Pascanel Ferreras 1 ; Drew Needham 2 ; Kyle Riesselmann 1 ; Cole Jones 1
SH: Brandon Butterworth 1
SF: Cole Jones 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jordan Starkes 1 ; Nate Stocum 1 ; Jack Spyke 2 ; Brandon Butterworth 1 ; Drew Needham 1
HBP: Brandon Butterworth 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
Players Mentioned
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