The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Northern Illinois
Baseball Defeated by Northern Illinois in MAC Matchup, 2-1
March 30 | Baseball
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AVON, Ohio – The University of Akron (4-19, 2-3 MAC) baseball team lost to Northern Illinois University (7-17, 3-2 MAC) in a Mid-American Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon by a score of 2-1 at All Pro Freight Stadium.
Freshman John Valek started at pitcher for UA in the loss to NIU. Valek's record dropped to 2-4 in the loss, despite pitching 8.0 innings with five strikeouts and two earned runs allowed. Valek has allowed a total of four runs in his past two starts.
"Valek pitched well for us, and he deserved more run support from us," Head Coach Rick Rembielak said on Saturday. "We hit the ball hard at times, but didn't string together any threats for their pitcher."
Northern Illinois plated the first run of the game with an RBI single by Jamison Wells in the first inning. NIU later added another run on a Tommy Hook single to take a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning, which would end their offensive attack.
Valek – a native of Parkland, Fla. – worked out of a critical situation in the fifth inning with bases loaded and one out. The southpaw induced a 6-4-3 double play to stop the NIU offensive at only one run in the inning.
Offensively, Devan Ahart provided a spark in the eighth inning with an RBI single up the middle to drive in Bryan White from second base, bringing the score to 2-1. Ahart's RBI single was his lone hit of the day, and pushed his season totals to 23 hits and seven RBI.
Senior Jared Turocy received the start in leftfield on Saturday, and turned in a two-hit performance in four at-bats. Turocy has registered eight hits in 20 at-bats so far this season, which is good for a .400 batting average.
Matt LaRocca recorded one hit in the loss to NIU. LaRocca's base knock on Saturday continued his consecutive game hit streak, which now stands at six games. The sophomore from Stony Brook, N.Y., owns a .299 batting average this season.
"We must come back tomorrow with high energy, and continue swinging aggressively as the balls will eventually fall," Rembielak said following the game.
Akron and Northern Illinois will wrap up this three game series on Sunday with a noon game time at All Pro Freight Stadium. Sophomore Pat Dyer is the probable starting pitcher for UA.
All Pro Freight Stadium is located roughly 20 miles west of Cleveland. Here is a link for directions to the ballpark. Parking and admission is free of charge for the game.
