The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Battles Cleveland State Before Hosting Ball State in Key MAC Series
April 24 | Softball
AKRON, Ohio -Â The University of Akron women's softball team faces a challenging week as the Zips square off against Cleveland State on Tuesday (April 25) before welcoming Ball State to Lee R. Jackson Field for a pivotal Mid-American Conference series beginning on Saturday (April 29).
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WHAT'S AHEAD:
Akron opens its week with a 4:30 tilt at Cleveland State on Tuesday. The Zips then face a key league series versus Ball State starting with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. before a single contest at noon on Sunday.
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April 25 at Cleveland State | 4:30 p.m. | Live Stats
April 29 vs. Ball State (DH Game 1) | 1 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Video
April 29 vs. Ball State (DH Game 2) | 3:30 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Video
April 30 vs. Ball State | 12 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Video
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AKRON TO HONOR EIGHT ZIPS ON SENIOR DAY:
Akron will honor eight Zips on Senior Day following the second game of the squad's three-game series with Ball State on Saturday (April 29). Among those being honored will be Carley Auten (Pickerington, Ohio), Jaiden Bryant (Hilliard, Ohio), Laurel DeVoe (North Canton, Ohio), Alexa DiFeo (Akron, Ohio), Shelby Fortune (LaGrange, Ohio), Molly McChesney (Verona, Wis.), Olivia Otani (Canton, Ohio) and Katelyn Reynolds (Cincinnati, Ohio).
SCOUTING AKRON:
Akron enters action against Cleveland State with a 25-20 ledger on the campaign, including a 13-10 mark in the Mid-American Conference under the direction of first-year head coach Craig Nicholson. The Zips sit in fifth place in the league standings a game behind Ball State for the fourth and final spot in the MAC Tournament.
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In their 47th season of intercollegiate competition in 2023, the Zips returned 18 players from the Zips' 2022 squad and added six newcomers to the 2023 roster.
Freshman INF Brooke Sivek (Boerne, Texas) leads the offensive exploits for the Zips batting a team-best .345 on the strength of team-high marks in at-bats (168), runs (38), hits (58) and stolen bases (22). Freshman Abigail Scheller (North Hills, Pa.) leads Akron in home runs (4), while sophomore INF Alexis Campbell (Indianapolis, Ind.) paces the team in RBI (32) and total bases (61).
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The pitching duo of freshman Haley Croyle (Hubbard, Ohio) and P Alexa DiFeo have combined to toss 248.2 innings en route to posting 110 and 88 strikeouts, respectively.
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Sivek is rated 24th in the NCAA in hits (52) and 40th in stolen bases (22), while Campbell is ranked 37th in sacrifice flies (4). On the mound, DiFeo is 36th in walks allowed per seven innings (1.18).
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As a team, Akron ranks first in the Mid-American Conference in at-bats (1,242), second in fielding percentage (.968), third in hits (349), strikeouts (224) and ERA (3.29), fourth in doubles (56), runs (207) and RBI (174) and fifth in batting average (.281)
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Individually, Sivek is second in the MAC in hits (58) and fourth in runs scored (38), while Campbell ranks seventh in RBI (32).
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SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE
Cleveland State enters play against Akron at 14-27 on the year, including a 10-7 mark in the Horizon League. Jenna Deang owns team-best .310 batting average and team-high marks at-bats (126), runs (18), hits (39) and triples (1). In the circle, Melissa Holzopfel has pitched 117.0 innings and maintains a 2.57 ERA en route to striking out 120 batters.
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SCOUTING BALL STATE:
Ball State comes into its midweek series versus Miami at 24-21 on the year, including a 14-9 mark in the Mid-American Conference. Amala Daniel maintains a team-best .419 batting average, while adding a team-high 57 hits. In the circle, the trio of Angelina Russo, Bridie Murphy and Francys King have combined to pitch 224.1 innings and maintain 2.77, 3.92 and 4.60 ERA's, respectively, en route to striking out 142 batters.
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SERIES HISTORY:
Akron leads the all-time series versus Cleveland State, 43-7-6, while Ball State owns the series advantage versus the Zips, 42-23.
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 Central Michigan for a three-game series starting on May 5.
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WHAT'S AHEAD:
Akron opens its week with a 4:30 tilt at Cleveland State on Tuesday. The Zips then face a key league series versus Ball State starting with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. before a single contest at noon on Sunday.
Â
April 25 at Cleveland State | 4:30 p.m. | Live Stats
April 29 vs. Ball State (DH Game 1) | 1 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Video
April 29 vs. Ball State (DH Game 2) | 3:30 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Video
April 30 vs. Ball State | 12 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Video
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AKRON TO HONOR EIGHT ZIPS ON SENIOR DAY:
Akron will honor eight Zips on Senior Day following the second game of the squad's three-game series with Ball State on Saturday (April 29). Among those being honored will be Carley Auten (Pickerington, Ohio), Jaiden Bryant (Hilliard, Ohio), Laurel DeVoe (North Canton, Ohio), Alexa DiFeo (Akron, Ohio), Shelby Fortune (LaGrange, Ohio), Molly McChesney (Verona, Wis.), Olivia Otani (Canton, Ohio) and Katelyn Reynolds (Cincinnati, Ohio).
SCOUTING AKRON:
Akron enters action against Cleveland State with a 25-20 ledger on the campaign, including a 13-10 mark in the Mid-American Conference under the direction of first-year head coach Craig Nicholson. The Zips sit in fifth place in the league standings a game behind Ball State for the fourth and final spot in the MAC Tournament.
Â
In their 47th season of intercollegiate competition in 2023, the Zips returned 18 players from the Zips' 2022 squad and added six newcomers to the 2023 roster.
Freshman INF Brooke Sivek (Boerne, Texas) leads the offensive exploits for the Zips batting a team-best .345 on the strength of team-high marks in at-bats (168), runs (38), hits (58) and stolen bases (22). Freshman Abigail Scheller (North Hills, Pa.) leads Akron in home runs (4), while sophomore INF Alexis Campbell (Indianapolis, Ind.) paces the team in RBI (32) and total bases (61).
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The pitching duo of freshman Haley Croyle (Hubbard, Ohio) and P Alexa DiFeo have combined to toss 248.2 innings en route to posting 110 and 88 strikeouts, respectively.
Â
Sivek is rated 24th in the NCAA in hits (52) and 40th in stolen bases (22), while Campbell is ranked 37th in sacrifice flies (4). On the mound, DiFeo is 36th in walks allowed per seven innings (1.18).
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As a team, Akron ranks first in the Mid-American Conference in at-bats (1,242), second in fielding percentage (.968), third in hits (349), strikeouts (224) and ERA (3.29), fourth in doubles (56), runs (207) and RBI (174) and fifth in batting average (.281)
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Individually, Sivek is second in the MAC in hits (58) and fourth in runs scored (38), while Campbell ranks seventh in RBI (32).
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SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE
Cleveland State enters play against Akron at 14-27 on the year, including a 10-7 mark in the Horizon League. Jenna Deang owns team-best .310 batting average and team-high marks at-bats (126), runs (18), hits (39) and triples (1). In the circle, Melissa Holzopfel has pitched 117.0 innings and maintains a 2.57 ERA en route to striking out 120 batters.
Â
SCOUTING BALL STATE:
Ball State comes into its midweek series versus Miami at 24-21 on the year, including a 14-9 mark in the Mid-American Conference. Amala Daniel maintains a team-best .419 batting average, while adding a team-high 57 hits. In the circle, the trio of Angelina Russo, Bridie Murphy and Francys King have combined to pitch 224.1 innings and maintain 2.77, 3.92 and 4.60 ERA's, respectively, en route to striking out 142 batters.
Â
SERIES HISTORY:
Akron leads the all-time series versus Cleveland State, 43-7-6, while Ball State owns the series advantage versus the Zips, 42-23.
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 Central Michigan for a three-game series starting on May 5.
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Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/3B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
INF
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