Akron Evens Series in Kalamazoo with 5-4 Win

Saturday, April 8

Kalamazoo, MI

3 PM

University of Akron

13-17, 6-8

Western Michigan

8-20, 5-6

Akron

Western Michigan

April 08 | Baseball

Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Akron Zips evened the series against Western Michigan with a 5-4 win at Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field on Saturday.

Akron (13-17,6-8 MAC) opened the game with four consecutive hits for two runs and added runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings for the win.

The Zips registered 12 hits on the day as junior OF Jack Firestone (Zionsville, Ind.) led the offense with a 3-of-4 performance. Firestone launched his 11^th homerun of the season for a run scored and RBI while touching the plate in the initial inning on a double by sophomore OF Ian Pennington (Springboro, Ohio). Pennington finished the game with two hits, while junior Jack Poist (Hoover, Ala.) also posted a 2-of-5 performance with an RBI.

Western Michigan (8-20, 5-6 MAC) scored one run in the bottom of the second inning to cut the Zips' advantage in half, 2-1. The Broncos countered Akron's three runs over three innings with a three-run homer from Grady Mee in the bottom of the sixth, but couldn't plate a tying run. Akron held-on for the 5-4 game two win.

Akron starting pitcher earned a no-decision as junior Brett Dietrich (Goshen, Ohio) threw 4.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits with seven strikeouts. Freshman reliever Emmett Gillies (Columbus, Ohio) earned the win with 4.1 innings pitched, allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts.

Up Next
The series concludes with game three on Sunday, April 9 at 1 p.m.