The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Ohio
Baseball Clinches Series with 7-1 Win over Ohio on Saturday
April 12 | Baseball
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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron (18-14, 8-3 MAC) baseball team clinched the series win over Ohio University (5-26, 1-10 MAC) by a final score of 7-1 on Saturday afternoon at Lee R. Jackson Field.
Sophomore JT Brubaker took the hill at the outset of the contest, and was masterful in his six innings of work. Brubaker did not allow a hit and only put four runners on base heading into the seventh inning. He went on to finish the game with one hit allowed, one earned run, and four strikeouts in the 92-pitch outing, improving his season record to 3-2.
A heated pitcher's duel dominated the beginning of the matchup as there was no score and just one base hit between the two teams through the fourth inning. However, the Zips broke through the scoreless tie in the fifth with back-to-back doubles by redshirt senior James Sheltrown and freshman James Meeker III. Junior Danny Lawrence then singled to right to drive in Meeker, giving UA 2-0 advantage.
The Bobcats tacked on their lone run of the afternoon in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly out by Taylor Emody off of Zips reliever Masashi Sakamoto to make it 2-1 Akron. The run in the seventh was tagged to Brubaker.
Akron would take a commanding lead with a five-run seventh inning. With the bases loaded, Lawrence drew a hit-by-pitch to score the first run of the inning, followed by an RBI single from junior Matt Rembielak. Redshirt junior Devan Ahart then ripped a single up the middle to score both Lawrence and Derek Carmichael.
Simonton capped off the rally with a RBI single to right field, plating Rembielak on the play. The Zips have totaled 11 runs in the seventh inning alone in this series, following a six-run seventh in the series opener on Friday.
A Dublin, Ohio native, Sakamoto worked three scoreless innings with one hit and walk allowed. His ERA fell to 1.64 in the win, while also earning his first collegiate save.
Akron registered a total of nine base hits in the contest, led by Ahart, Meeker and Simonton with two hits apiece. Lawrence had a strong game out of the leadoff spot, totaling one hits, one run and two RIB in the win.
The Zips will look for the series sweep over the Bobcats on Sunday at 1 p.m., on Lee R. Jackson Field to cap off the weekend Mid-American Conference series. Admission to all Akron home games is free of charge. Live stats and video will be available through GoZips.com.
