The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Bowling Green
Watkin's Walk-off Double Sends Akron to 4-3 Win over Bowling Green
April 07 | Baseball
AKRON, Ohio – Senior Sam Watkins ripped a two-out, two-run double down the left field line to complete a 4-3 Akron comeback win over Bowling Green on Saturday at Canal Park.
UA (12-17, 5-3 Mid-American Conference) trailed 3-1 heading into the ninth, before scoring three off of BGSU (11-19, 2-6) closer Nick Bruns (1-1). Sophomore Darius Washington was plunked to begin the inning and moved to second on a Samuel Trecaso groundout. Junior Jared Turocy then legged out an infield single to put runners on the corners with one out. Freshman Matt Rembielak made it a one run game with his double down the right field line, scoring Washington and putting the winning run at second. After a Devan Ahart flyout, Watkins pulled an 0-1 offering from Bruns over the head of third baseman Logan Walker to give UA its second win in the series.
Senior Scott Foster (2-3) collected the relief win, allowing just one hit in 2.2 innings of work. Freshman starter Pat Dyer allowed three runs in 6.1 innings. Rembielak and sophomore Tyler Begun both had two hits and an RBI for Akron. Turocy and redshirt freshman Joey Havrilak both tallied a pair of base knocks.
Bowling Green starter Ethan McKenney allowed one run in 7.2 innings to take a no-decision. Jeremy Shay and Jesse Rait led the Falcons at the plate with two hits each.
The Zips created early momentum by turning double plays in both the second and third innings. Watkins snagged Andrew Kuns's liner and doubled up Andrew Kubuski at first in the second. In the third, Washington gunned down Brian Bien as he tried to go from first to third on Rait's single to right. Rait was thrown out at second trying to advance on the throw.
Begun's double over third base drove in Rembielak in the bottom of the third to give UA a 1-0 lead. Rembielak had reached on an infield single and moved to third on an Ahart sacrifice bunt and a Watkins ground out.
Dyer induced another huge double play in the sixth to keep the Falcons off the board. Two hit batters and a sac bunt had runners on first and third with one out. TJ Losby then grounded into a 543 twin killings to end the threat.
Bowling Green would finally get on the board with four hits seventh inning. Kubuski and Kuns started the frame with back-to-back singles and moved up on a sacrifice bunt. Shay then put BGSU ahead with a pinch hit double to right center. Rait's single up the middle in the next at-bat forced Dyer from the game. Foster then struck out Jake Thomas with a pitch in the dirt that catcher Brady Stewart was unable to block down, allowing Shay to score from third.
Akron goes for the series sweep tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Canal Park. Senior Alex Loftin will take the mound for Akron, while BGSU will send out lefty Patrick Martin.
