Akron Softball Set to Compete at Frost Classic

AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron softball squad is set to travel to Chattanooga, Tenn., this weekend to compete at the Frost Invitational host by Chattanooga.

WHAT'S AHEAD:
Akron will face Memphis and host Chattanooga at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24. The Zips open second-day action battling Eastern Illinois and Southeast Missouri State at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25. Akron caps tournament play squaring off against Eastern Illinois at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26.

Feb. 24 vs. Memphis | 12:30 p.m. | Live Stats
Feb. 24 at Chattanooga | 3 p.m. | Live Stats
Feb. 25 vs. Eastern Illinois | 10 a.m. | Live Stats
Feb. 25 vs. Southeast Missouri State | 3 p.m. | Live Stats
Feb. 26 vs. Eastern Illinois | 1:30 p.m. | Live Stats

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.

Freshman INF Brooke Sivek (Boerne, Texas) leads the offensive exploits for the Zips batting a team-best .450 on the strength of team-high marks in at-bats (20), runs (5), hits (9), stolen bases (1) and total bases (9). Additionally, sophomore INF Alexis Campbell (Indianapolis, Ind.) owns a team-high eight RBI.

The pitching trio of freshman Haley Croyle (Hubbard, Ohio), redshirt senior P Alexa DiFeo (Akron, Ohio) and redshirt senior P Olivia Otani (Canton, Ohio) have combined to toss 30.2 innings en route to posting 15, eight and one strikeouts, respectively.

SCOUTING MEMPHIS:
Memphis enters play against Akron at 2-8 on the year following a 2-3 mark last weekend at the JU/UNF Invitational. Kendall Lee owns a team-best .368 batting average and paces the Tigers in hits (7), doubles (2), home runs (1), total bases (12) and walks (5). In the circle, the duo of Hallie Siems and Rylee Dugar have combined to pitch 52.2 innings and maintain 7.00 and 7.43 ERA's, respectively, en route to striking out 36 batters.

SCOUTING CHATTANOOGA:
Chattanooga comes into play versus Akron at 4-2 on the year following a 3-2 victory past Tennessee State on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Jayce Purdy boasts a team-best .462 batting average and directs the Mocs in hits (6). On the mound, the trio of Taylor Long, Peja Goold and Brooke Parrott maintain 1.00, 2.25 and 2.62 ERA's, respectively, having combined to toss 34.0 innings and strike 25 batters.

SCOUTING EASTERN ILLINOIS:
Eastern Illinois enters play against Akron at 5-5 on the campaign following posting a 5-0 mark at the Mardi Gras Classic last weekend. Jayle Prichard owns a team-best .406 batting average and paces the Panthers in hits (13), while ranking second in at-bats (32), doubles (1), RBI (6) and total bases (17). In the circle, Alexa Rehmeier and Olivia Price maintain 2.10 and 2.68 ERA's, respectively, having combined to toss 35.2 innings en route to striking out 38 batters.

SCOUTING SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE:
Southeast Missouri State enters play against Akron at 2-3 on the year following a doubleheader sweep at Saint Louis on Feb. 19. Alyson Tucker owns team-best .500 batting average and paces the Redhawks in hits (7), doubles (2) and total bases (9). On the mound, Marissa Davis, Paytience Holman and Delaney Kell maintain 3.50, 5.38 and 5.56 ERA's, having combined to toss 34.1 innings en route to striking out 19 batters.

SERIES HISTORY:
Akron is set to meet Memphis for the first time in program history. The Zips have encountered Chattanooga three times previously with the Mocs owning a 3-0 series edge. Akron is meeting Eastern Illinois for the 10th time overall with the Zips trailing the series, 6-3, while Southeast Missouri State maintains a 2-0 advantage in a pair of previous encounters with Akron.

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.

UP NEXT:
Akron travels to Bowling Green, Ky., to compete in the Hilltopper Spring Fling hosted by Western Kentucky, March 3-5.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Alexis Campbell

Haley Croyle

Alexa DiFeo

Olivia Otani

Brooke Sivek

The University of Akron Athletics