Akron Defeats Mercyhurst, 8-7

Tuesday, March 24

Erie, PA

2:00 pm

University of Akron

11-12

Mercyhurst

4-14

Akron

Mercyhurst

March 24 | Baseball

Box Score Boxscore (PDF)

ERIE, Pa. --The Akron Zips took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed from there on the way to an 8-7 victory over the Mercyhurst Lakers on Tuesday.

Offensively, the Zips were led by Henry Hayman, who went 1-for-2 on the day with a home run, two walks and two RBI. Easton Amundson furnished a standout day at the plate as well, going 2-for-5 with two RBI. Austin Lafferty also contributed for Akron, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding a double, a walk and an RBI.

Landon Vandegrift (1-0) got the win for Akron (11-12). The right-hander went two shutout innings, giving up one hit, one walk and striking out two. Nathan Currah also pitched well, going 1.2 shutout innings without allowing a hit.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Zips got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Akron managed to push across two runs in the inning.

The Lakers failed to push any runs across before the Zips offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Ryan Jones came across to score the lone run of the inning for Akron, which brought the Zips lead to 3-0.

Akron held Mercyhurst without a run before building their lead to 5-0 the following inning. The Zips picked up two runs when a single from Amundson brought home Hayman and Lafferty.

The Lakers fought back, closing the gap to 5-2 until Akron added some insurance in the fourth. The three-run fram for the Zips was puncuated by a two-run homer from Hayman. bringing the score to 8-2 in favor of Akron. Mercyhurst put five runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Zips still held on for the 8-7 win.

GAME NOTES
» Akron's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed three runs across.
» Akron grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Gabe Mathison stole two bases in Tuesday's game.
» Akron pitchers limited Mercyhurst to just 2-for-12 (.167) with runners in scoring position.
» Akron pitchers faced 43 Mercyhurst hitters in the game, allowing 16 ground balls and five fly balls while striking out three.
» The Zips drew 10 walks from Mercyhurst pitching.
» Hayman led the Zips at the plate, going 1 for 2 with a home run and two RBI.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Akron returns to Skeeles Field to host Toledo for a conference series starting on Friday, March 27.