The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Jacksonville
Baseball Suffers 5-2 Setback at Jacksonville
March 13 | Baseball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of Akron baseball team suffered a 5-2 setback at Jacksonville on Tuesday evening at Sessions Field.
Senior Dan Burant led UA (3-10) with a 2-for-3 day at the plate, while Samuel Trecaso drove in a run. Scott Foster picked up the loss in his first start of the season. Foster allowed three runs on six hits in 5.0 inning, while punching out six.
Dan Gulbransen batted 2-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Dolphins (7-9). R.C. Williams went two innings in a relief effort to grab the win on the mound.
JU went up 2-0 after scoring a pair in the bottom of the first. Foster was hampered when he issued a walk and hit a batter to start the frame. The Dolphins then cashed in with run-scoring singles by Gulbransen and Jonathon Murphy.
"Scott came out a little tentative in the first and had to work from behind, but he settled in immediately in the second," first-year head coach Rick Rembielak said. "Offensively, not only did we leave too many guys on base, but missed some chances with men in scoring position. We have to be mentally tougher in those situations."
The Zips cut the Dolphin lead in half in the second by taking advantage of a pair of errors. Brandon Winter singled with one out, advanced on an error in left and scored when second baseman Colin Monagle booted Darius Washington's grounder.
Sam Watkins started a two-out rally with a double in the third. Trecaso followed with a single to tie the game.
Back-to-back two-out hits would move JU back in front in the fifth. Gulbransen was the run producer once again, doubling to right center and driving in Zachary Houck.
The Dolphins would then add a single run in both the sixth and seventh to extend their lead.
Freshman Jason McPeek tossed the final 1.2 innings, allowing just one hit.
"We saw another improved performance out of a young guy in McPeek tonight," Rembielak said.
Akron will look to split the two game set tomorrow. First pitch at Sessions Field is at 6:30 p.m.
