Akron Walks Off Youngstown State, 11-10

Tuesday, March 31

Akron, Ohio

1:00 pm

University of Akron

13-14

Youngstown State

3-23

Youngstown St.

Akron

March 31 | Baseball

Box Score Boxscore (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio -The Akron Zips secured a win in walk-off fashion, responding to score one in the bottom of the ninth after Youngstown State tied it up in the top half, sealing the victory on a single off the bat of Brennan Morgan to defeat the Penguins 11-10 Tuesday.

Along with his game-winning RBI, Morgan recorded four hits, one double, two runs and three RBI in the win. Brody Chrisman also recorded four hits while scoring once. Gabe Mathison and Tucker Biehl joined the multi-hit party with two each. Atticus Huffstutler notched a grand slam with his lone hit of the day.

Floyd McKenna (1-1) got the win out of the bullpen for Akron (13-14). The left-hander went one inning, giving up one run on one hit, allowing one walk and striking out one. Nathan Currah also pitched well, going two shutout innings while allowing one hit, walking two and striking out two. Garrett Groce also added 2.0 innings of scoreless baseball, allowing just two hits while walking and striking out two.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Zips were trailing 2-0 in the second inning when they first put runs on the board.

The Penguins then rallied to score five runs and take a 7-3 lead before the Zips got back on the board in the third. The Akron offense exploded for five runs, highlighted by a grand slam off the bat of Huffstutler, which brought the score to 8-7 in favor of the Zips.

Akron's lead had disappeared once the seventh inning came around and turned into a 9-8 Youngstown State advantage, when the Zips re-took control at 10-9. The Zips recorded two runs when a single from Morgan scored Chrisman and Blake Bowen.

Youngstown State then rallied to tie the ballgame at 10-10 before Akron walked it off in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI single off the bat of Morgan.

GAME NOTES
» Akron got four-hit games from both Morgan and Chrisman.
» Huffstutler drove in four runs for Akron.
» Every Akron starter reached base safely in the win.
» Akron's highest scoring inning was the third, when it pushed five runs across.
» Four Zips had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Zips had a total of 17 hits.
» The Zips out-hit the Penguins at a 17-14 clip.
» Akron went 6-for-16 (.375) with runners in scoring position.
» Akron pitchers faced 51 Youngstown State hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and six fly balls while striking out 10.
» The Zips drew 10 walks from Youngstown State pitching.
» Morgan led the Zips at the plate, going 4 for 5 with a double and three RBI.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Akron heads to Bowling Green to battle the Falcons for a three game series starting on Thursday, April 2.