The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Bowling Green
Baseball Falls 9-7 in Series Opener to Bowling Green
April 18 | Baseball
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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron (20-15, 9-4 MAC) baseball team's six-game win streak was snapped by Mid-American Conference opponent Bowling Green State University (14-19, 6-7 MAC) on Friday afternoon by a score of 9-7 in game one of the three-game series at Lee R. Jackson Field.
Akron starting pitcher John Valek III started out the afternoon strong, setting down 12 of the first 13 Bowling Green batters. However, he struggled to maintain effectiveness in the fourth and fifth innings, as BGSU scored five runs in the two-inning span.
Valek ended the afternoon at 5.0 innings with nine hits, five runs allowed and one walk in the 85-pitch outing. His record is now even at 3-3 after being tagged with the loss.
Head coach Rick Rembielak went to freshman right-hander Josh Davis as the first arm out of the Akron bullpen. Davis was tagged with one run in the sixth, giving BGSU a 6-0 advantage. He would go on to work a scoreless seventh, and finish the game with two innings and three strikeouts.
The Zips offense did not back down from the Falcon lead, as Akron recorded a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh. Sophomore Billy Salem, senior James Sheltrown and freshman James Meeker III reached base to lead off the inning, followed by a bases-loaded walk by sophomore Daulton Mosbarger to score Akron's first run of the game.
Following Mosbarger's free pass, junior shortstop Matt Rembielak delivered a two-run single to right, plating Meeker and Shetrown. Devan Ahart followed with an RBI fielder's choice to cap off the rally and cut BGSU's lead to 6-4.
Ahead two runs in the ninth, Bowling Green added three insurance runs off of Akron reliever Zach Beaver, bringing the game to a 9-4 Falcon lead. Beaver finished the contest with 2.0 innings, three runs, five hits and a walk.
The Zips scored two in the bottom of the ninth on a two-run, pinch-hit single up the middle by junior Danny Lawrence, but the Falcons lead was too much to overcome within the frame.
Overall, UA registered 13 base hits, seven RBI and five walks. Rembielak and Salem tied for the team lead in base hits with three apiece, while Lawrence and Rembielak led the mob with two RBI each. Meeker also had a multi-hit game, producing one run scored.
Akron will look to even up the three-game MAC series with Bowling Green on Saturday at 2 p.m. The originally scheduled first pitch time of 1 p.m., was pushed back due to festivities surrounding the Football Spring Game.
Admission to all Akron home games is free of charge. Live stats and a video feed will be available throughout the weekend on GoZips.com.
