The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
3-3
Western Illinois
2-3
Zips Shutout Western Illinois 5-0 on Saturday
February 21 | Baseball
MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Four pitchers combined to toss a shutout on Saturday as the Akron Zips blanked the Western Illinois Leathernecks 5-0 on Saturday.
Elijah Griffith (1-0) started and picked up the win for Akron (3-3), going six shutout innings while giving up two hits, walking two, and striking out two. Floyd McKenna dealt 1.2 innings with two strikeouts, while Josiah Ross and Taylor Bednar closed out the final 1.1 innings.
At the plate, the Zips were paced by Henry Hayman, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a home run, a walk and an RBI. Kelton Phillips put together a noteworthy performance as well, going 1-for-4 with a double, a walk and two RBI. Brennan Morgan also contributed for Akron, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding two walks and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Zips took the lead for good in the fifth, scoring for the first time in the inning. Hayman put Akron on the board with a leadoff home run.
The Zips then tacked on runs in the seventh and eighth innings, with their biggest output coming in the eighth when they scored three times. Two of those three runs scored on a two-RBI double from Phillips.
GAME NOTES
» Four Akron pitchers combined to throw a three-hit shutout.
» Akron's highest scoring inning was the eighth, when it pushed three runs across.
» Griffith put together six innings of shutout ball for the Zips.
» The Zips out-hit the Leathernecks at a 6-3 clip.
» Akron pitchers limited Western Illinois to just 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
» Akron pitchers faced 37 Western Illinois hitters in the game, allowing 16 ground balls and three fly balls while striking out five.
» The Zips drew nine walks from Western Illinois pitching.
» Hayman led the Zips at the plate, going 1 for 3 with a home run and an RBI.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Akron and Western Illinois conclude the series in Millington, Tenn., on Sunday, February 22 at 1 p.m. ET.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Griffith, Elijah (1-0)
L: J. Buhl (0-1)
Base Running:
CS: P. Osting 1
HBP: P. Osting 1 ; J. McClintoc 1 ; W. Campana 1
Batting:
2B: Phillips , Kelton 1
HR: Hayman, Henry 1
RBI: Phillips , Kelton 2 ; Morgan , Brennan 1 ; Hayman, Henry 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Phillips , Kelton 1 ; Hayman, Henry 1 ; Amundson , Easton 1 ; Lafferty, Austin 1 ; Biehl , Tucker 1
SB: Bowen, Blake 1 ; Amundson , Easton 1 ; Lafferty, Austin 1
HBP: Amundson , Easton 1
