Akron Hosts Miami RedHawks at Lee R. Jackson Field

WHATS AHEAD
After opening Mid-American Conference play 3-0 with a sweep of Ball State, the Akron Zips open league play at home for the first time in 2026 against Miami. The RedHawks were slated as the league favorite in the MAC Coaches' Preseason Poll and currently stand at 20-5 overall and 2-1 in MAC play, falling to Western Michigan 8-6 in the opener and sweeping the doubleheader 6-5 and 9-1 last weekend.

HOW TO FOLLOW
GM1: March 20 vs Ball State | 3 PM | Live Stats
GM2: March 21 vs Ball State | 1 PM | Live Stats
GM3: March 21 vs Ball State | 3 PM | Live Stats

ZIPS AT A GLANCE
Under fourth-year head coach Craig Nicholson, Akron enters the 30th season of intercollegiate competition in 2026. The Zips return 17 players from the 2025 squad and added six newcomers to the 2026 roster. Akron returns four All-MAC honorees. Earning First Team All-MAC accolades were outfielder Meagan Lee and infielder Sophia Wygast, while redshirt pitcher Madie Jamrog and outfielder Andrea Day were named to the All-MAC Freshman Team.

Akron swept the first conference series of the season, defeating Ball State in three-straight games by scores of 18-6, 5-3 and 1-0. Sophia Wygast led the Akron Zips offensive to a three-game sweep of the Ball State Cardinals. For the week, she posted a .583 batting average on a 7-for-12 performance with three double and a homerun and six RBI. Wygast touched 13 bases and scored two runs. She had two multiple-hit games, going 3-for-6 and 3-for-3, while adding a 1-for-3 performance as well.

In the Circle, Macy Walters picked-up a pair of wins to move to xx-xx on the season. She threw 11.2 innings, allowing 15 hits and six runs with eight strikeouts and seven walks. Madie Jamrog also stepped in the circle after a couple weeks off, hurling 9.1 innings while giving-up three runs on nine hits with five strikeouts and four free passes.

MAC PRESEASON POLL
Zips Softball Picked to Finish Fourth in Preseason MAC Coaches' Poll
The Akron Zips were picked to finish fourth overall in league play in the 2026 Mid-American Conference Coaches' Poll, the MAC announced on Wednesday.

Akron received one first place vote and 93 points overall, while also receiving one vote to win the season finale MAC Tournament. Miami was selected as the overall favorite with eight first place votes (118 pts) and five votes as MAC Tournament Champion.

2026 MAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll(First Place Votes)
1. Miami – 116 points (8)
2. Ohio – 108 points (1)
3. Ball State – 98 points (2)
4. Akron – 93 points (1)
5. Central Michigan – 77 points
6. Toledo – 72 points
7. Northern Illinois – 71 points
8. Western Michigan – 41 points
9. Buffalo – 40 points
10. Bowling Green – 34 points
11. Massachusetts – 23 points
12. Kent State – 19 points

MAC Tournament Champion: Miami (5), Ohio (5), Akron (1), Ball State (1)

Akron Hosts Miami RedHawks at Lee R. Jackson Field

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Players Mentioned

Andrea Day

Madie Jamrog

Meagan Lee

Macy Walters

Sophia Wygast

The University of Akron Athletics