The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Ball State
Baseball Drops Series Finale to Ball State, 5-3
May 04 | Baseball
Follow Zips Baseball on Twitter (@ZipsBB) and Facebook
Video Recap
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron (23-23, 10-11 MAC) baseball team dropped the series finale to Ball state University (32-15, 16-4 MAC) by a final score of 5-3 on Sunday afternoon at Lee R. Jackson Field. Akron honored three seniors – Joe Cochran, James Sheltrown and Brady Stewart – prior to the game for their hard work on the field and in the classroom.
Zips starter Pat Dyer struggled at the outset of the game, allowing a lead off walk and back-to-back singles. Dyer would allow two runs to score in the first before striking out the side in order.
Akron spotted Dyer with one run in the bottom of the first to cut Ball State's lead to 2-1. Sophomore Kris Simonton notched a double down the left field line to score redshirt junior Devan Ahart from second base.
Dyer, a southpaw, got into a groove in the second and third innings registering two strikeouts in two scoreless frames. However, Ball State made it a 3-1 game with an RBI groundout in the top of the fourth.
UA was able to battle back for two runs in the fifth to tie the game at 3-3. Ahart notched his first RBI of the afternoon on a single to right, while Sheltrown scored on a wild pitch by Cardinals reliever Zach Plesac.
The Cardinals went scoreless in the sixth, but were able to manage two runs in the seventh which were tagged to Dyer. Dyer wouldn't make it out of the seventh, and finished the game with 6.2 innings, four earned runs, four walks and seven strikeouts. Freshman Josh Davis came out of the bullpen to record a swinging strikeout to end the rally.
Cocharan, a right-hander, held the Cardinals scoreless in the eighth and ninth inning with two hits allowed and a strikeout to keep the Zips within striking distance. Akron threatened to comeback in the ninth as the bases were loaded with two outs, but Stewart popped to first base to give Ball State a 5-3 victory. Dyer's record evened to 3-3 with the loss.
Overall, Akron registered nine base hits on the afternoon, led by Sheltrown and Simonton with two hits apiece. Sheltrown also had a run scored and two walks in the game. Ahart filled up the stat line with one run, one hit, one RBI, and one walk. Sophomore Daulton Mosbarger went 1-for-2 with a run scored and two walks.
Akron will look ahead to a pivotal three-game Mid-American Conference series at Northern Illinois next weekend, beginning on Friday. The Zips final home game will be on May 13 against Dayton.
