The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Ohio
Baseball's Comeback Falls Short in Series Opener vs. Ohio
May 11 | Baseball
AKRON, Ohio – A ninth-inning comeback by the Akron baseball team fell one base hit short on Friday, allowing visiting Ohio to escape Lee R. Jackson Baseball Field with a 4-3 win.
Akron (17-33, 10-12 Mid-American Conference) trailed 4-2 entering the bottom of the ninth, but would get within a run thanks to Devan Ahart's sacrifice fly. The Zips then had runners on second and third for Brady Stewart, who sent a rocket right at a drawn in Ethan Newton in center. Newton charged in to make the play and end the game.
UA benefited from an error on OU third baseman Dan Schmidt, who allowed Jared Turocy's grounder to get past and into left field to start the ninth. Turocy cruised into second and then moved to third on Brandon Winter's infield single up the middle. Sam Watkins then hit a one-hopper off of pitcher Brent Choban, who recovered to make the play at first. Stewart then sent his liner to center.
UA starter Andrew Brown (6-7) tossed his sixth complete game of the season in taking the loss. Brown allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out six. Rembielak and Winter each had two hits for the Zips, while Ahart drove in a pair.
Choban (7-6) also went the distance, allowing two earned runs on seven hits. Jake Madsen's two hits led Ohio (24-25, 13-9) at the plate.
Newton led off the first with a triple to the gap in right center and scored one batter later when Tyler Wells grounded out to second. Brown also gave up a double in the inning but escaped by popping up Jensen Painter and striking out Cody Gaertner.
The Bobcats scored three in the fourth to extend their lead, with all three runs coming across with two outs in the frame. Ian Mezlak's single up the middle plated the first run of the inning. Brown then allowed Scott White to score on a wild pitch and Mezlak came home when Rembielak slipped on the outfield grass while fielding Garrett Black's grounder.
UA jumped Choban for two runs with two outs in the fifth. Winter sent a two-out double to left to get into scoring position and came around on Ahart's single to right. Rembielak then sent in Ahart with a double of his own down the left field line. Choban then walked two straight to load the bases, but struck out Tyler Begun to get out of the inning.
Brown was excellent after Ohio's three-run fourth. The righty allowed just two base runners the rest of the way.
The clubs continue this weekend's series tomorrow at Jackson Field at 1 p.m. It will be senior day for Akron, with the team's seven seniors being honored on the field at 12:30 p.m.
