Zips Snap Ball State Win Streak, Tortorella Hurls Complete Game Shutout

Friday, March 31

Akron, Ohio

3 PM

University of Akron

12-13, 0

Ball State

18-7, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Ball State	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1
AKRON	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	0	X	4	6	0

Zips Snap Ball State Win Streak, Tortorella Hurls Complete Game Shutout

March 31 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

AKRON, Ohio –The Akron baseball team scored four runs and received a complete-game shutout win from starting pitcher Sammy Tortorella (Pittsburgh, Pa.) en route to snapping the top-rated Ball State Cardinals nine-game winning streak at Skeeles Field on Friday.

Tortorella hurled five no-hit innings and held Ball State (18-7, 8-2 MAC) scoreless while relinquishing only four hits in the game. He faced 32 batters and recorded 10 strikeouts with no walks and one hit batsman.

Offensively, Akron (12-13, 5-5 MAC) scattered six hits as junior IF DJ Butler (Chicago, Ill.) registered three of those hits in four at bats. Butler drove-in the Zips' first run in the second inning with an infield single to third base. He followed with a lead-off homerun in the seventh inning that sparked a three-run rally and recorded the Zips' first two RBI. Butler added a single in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Sophomore OF Ian Pennington (Springboro, Ohio) plated the Zips third run on a hit-and-run double to right centerfield in the seventh, scoring graduate IF Nick Arrivo (Ann Arbor, Mich.) – who reached on a hit-by-pitch.

Akron's final run in the seventh inning was a result of a sacrifice flyout by junior IF Kaito Hara (Houston, Texas) to score Pennington. Junior OF Sam Seeker (Norton, Ohio) collected two hits in four at bats with a stolen base in the win.

Up Next
The Zips continue the three-game series against Ball State on Saturday, April 1 at 2 p.m. Fans can follow the action live on Zips Digital Network or via live stats on GoZips.com.