The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
20-23, 8-8
Ball State
20-24, 7-11
Zips Split with Ball State in Saturday's Doubleheader
April 20 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. --The Akron Zips split a doubleheader with Mid-American Conference opponent, Ball State on Saturday afternoon. The Zips won the first game 9-4 before the Cardinals got a 5-0 victory in the nightcap.
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GAME 1 | Akron 9, Ball State 4
Akron got a boost from freshman Sophia Wygast, who totaled three hits in a 9-4 victory against the Ball State Cardinals Saturday.
Freshman Macy Walters (6-7) got the win for Akron (20-23, 8-8). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up four runs, all of them earned, on eight hits, allowing one walk and striking out four.
In addition to her three hits, Wygast had an RBI to lead the Zips. Freshman Delaney Jenkinson furnished a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI. Junior Autumn Bailey also helped out for Akron, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a walk and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Zips got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Akron got an RBI single from Wygast, scoring Bailey from first base.
The Zips lost the lead they built in the first, but got back on the board in the fourth trailing 2-1. The Akron offense exploded for six runs, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Bailey, which brought the score to 7-2 in favor of the Zips.
Ball State narrowed Akron's lead to 7-3 before the Zips stretched the advantage to 9-3 in the fifth inning. The Zips drove two runs across on a two-run double off the bat of Jenkinson that scored freshman Katie Cantrell and senior Tiffany Stevens. Ball State put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Akron still coasted to the 9-4 win.
GAME NOTES
» Wygast picked up three hits in the game for Akron.
» Akron's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed six runs across.
» The Zips out-hit the Cardinals at an 11-8 clip.
» Akron went 4-for-8 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Akron pitchers faced 30 Ball State hitters in the game, allowing three ground balls and 14 fly balls while striking out four.
» Jenkinson led the Zips at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI.
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GAME 2 | Ball State 5, Akron 0
Offensively, the Zips were led by sophomore Meagan Lee, who went 2-for-3 on the day. Cailey Joyce put together a noteworthy performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-3 with a double while also starting in the circle for Akron.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Akron managed three chances with runners on third in the shutout, going a total of 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The Zips last got a runner on third in the seventh, when freshman Lily Sullivan made it 60 feet away from scoring with nobody out.
GAME NOTES
» Akron pitchers limited Ball State to just 1-for-8 (.125) with runners in scoring position.
» Akron pitchers faced 31 Ball State hitters in the game, allowing three ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out five.
» Lee led the Zips at the plate, going 2-for-3.
ON DECK
Akron will conclude the series with Ball State tomorrow at noon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Walters, Macy (6-7)
L: KING, Francys (11-10)
Batting:
2B: Jenkinson, Delaney 1
RBI: Bailey, Autumn 2 ; Wygast, Sophia 1 ; Cantrell, Katie 1 ; Jenkinson, Delaney 2 ; Sizemore, Morgan 1
SF: Sizemore, Morgan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sivek, Brooke 1 ; Lee, Meagan 1 ; Bailey, Autumn 1 ; Glass, Haley 1 ; Sullivan, Lily 1 ; Cantrell, Katie 2 ; Stevens, Tiffany 1 ; Hoobler, Sydni 1
SB: Jenkinson, Delaney 1
Batting:
2B: MULHOLLAND, McKenna 1
HR: WYNN, Haley 1 ; MATHEWS, Kaitlyn 1
RBI: WYNN, Haley 1 ; HOFFMAN, Jessica 1 ; MATHEWS, Kaitlyn 2
Base Running:
RUNS: WYNN, Haley 1 ; MULHOLLAND, McKenna 2 ; MATHEWS, Kaitlyn 1
SB: MATHEWS, Kaitlyn 1
