The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Central Michigan
Akron Hosts Central Michigan for Final MACtion Series
April 28 | Softball
WHATS AHEAD
The Mid-American Conference leading Akron Zips softball team hosts Central Michigan for the final MACtion series of the regular season. Due to weather the schedule was adjusted. On Saturday, May 2, the Zips are scheduled to host a doubleheader with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. Game two will follow at approximately 3 p.m. The series finale and Senior Day is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, at 1 p.m. the Zips will hold Senior Day recognitions after the game.
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HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
May 2 vs CMU | 1 PM | Video | Stats
May 2 vs CMU | 3 PM | Video | Stats
May 3 vs CMU | 1 PM | Video | Stats
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ZIPS AT A GLANCE
Under 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.
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The Zips are 29-22 overall and own a league-best 19-5 record in MAC play. Akron is 9-2 at home, 15-9 on the road and 5-11 in neutral site games.
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The Zips have four players batting near .300 or better led by Meagan Lee (.423) with 72 hits in 170 at-bats. Lee has scored 45 runs, collected 18 RBI and 18 walks. Sophia Wygast follows with a .356 batting average on 57-for-160 with a team-high 56 RBI, while recording nine doubles and a team-high 10 home runs. Lily Sullivan (.325), and Haley Glass (.321) round out the group. Sullivan is 50-for-154 while Glass is 34-for-106. The duo has recorded 32 and 26 RBI, respectively. Sullivan leads the team in doubles with 12, while Glass has seven home runs and seven doubles.
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In the circle, Madie Jamrog (15-6) and Macy Walters (12-10) provide a one-two punch. Jamrog owns a 3.63 ERA with 148.1 innings pitched in 27 appearances and 21 starts. Opponents hit .294 against Jamrog with 179 hits for 77 earned runs (93 total) with 79 strikeouts and 43 walks.
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Walters owns a 4.53 ERA with 128.1 innings pitched in 30 appearances and 24 starts. Opponents hit .297 against Walters with 152 hits for 83 earned runs (93 total) with 56 strikeouts and 65 walks.
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MAC STANDINGS
Zips softball was picked to finish fourth in the Preseason MAC Coaches' Poll, but quickly shot up the leaderboard with an opening weekend sweep Ball State by scores of (18-6, 5-3 and 1-0), Akron then mover to 5-1 in the standings with a 2-1 performance against Miami (4-3, 11-3 and 7-8). The Zips dropped the third series of the year at Western Michigan (2-1), winning the first game 5-2 and falling by walk-offs the following day, 4-3 and 4-1. The Zips hosted Toledo and swept the Rockets 3-0 by scores of 9-1 (5 inn), 9-6 and 10-9. Akron swept Kent State 13-5, 4-2 and 20-6, and swept Buffalo 5-2, 9-2 and 12-4 (5 inn). Akron went 2-1 against UMass, winning 3-2 in game 1, falling 5-4 in game 2 and winning 2-0 in game three. The Blue and Gold recently went 2-1 at Ohio, picking up 4-2 and 9-5 victories on Friday, while falling 10-0 on Saturday.
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School                       MAC – Overall - Streak
Akron                          19-5     29-22     L1
Northern Illinois         16-6      23-14     L1
Miami                         16-8     35-15     W1
Ohio                            15-9     33-17     W1
Central Michigan         14-9     23-20    L1
Western Michigan        13-11   24-23     W1
Buffalo                         10-14     24-29    L1
Toledo                         10-14     14-33     W1
Massachusetts             9-15     18-27     W2
Ball State                     7-17     20-25     W3
Kent State                    7-17     19-28     L3
Bowling Green             6-17     18-26     L2
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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)
