The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Toledo
Baseball Earns Doubleheader Sweep for Series Win over Toledo
March 29 | Baseball
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Box Scores (PDF): Game one | Game two
AKRON, Ohio – A 19-hit attack in game one and a pair of quality starts from junior JT Brubaker and redshirt senior Jon Pusateri led the Zips to a 10-1 victory in game one and a 2-0 win in game two of a doubleheader against Toledo at Lee R. Jackson Field on Sunday.
With the 2-1 series win over Toledo, the Zips have won their first two Mid-American Conference series to open up league play. UA's record improves to 12-13 overall and 4-2 in the MAC. Toledo fell to 9-18 and 3-3 in conference action.
Brubaker (2-3) shined in game one, holding the Rockets scoreless through his 8.0 innings pitched and posting a career-high seven strikeouts. The right-hander gave up just two hits and walked two.
Brubaker allowed only one batter to reach base through his first five innings on the mound and earned additional defensive support as the Zips played errorless baseball.
Meanwhile, Akron's offense posted a season-high 19 hits scattered across five different innings, highlighted by a three-run fifth and four-run sixth.
Five Zips posted a multi-hit game, led by sophomore catcher Brian Lees who went 4-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored.
Senior Matt Rembielak knocked three hits to go with two runs scored. Redshirt sophomore Mason Mamarella matched Rembielak with three hits while also posting an RBI.
Redshirt senior Joey Havrilak and junior Daulton Mosbarger each registered a pair of hits in the affair while junior Kris Simonton posted a game-high two RBI after a two-run double in the fifth inning.
The offense was also aided by four Toledo errors.
Brubaker and reliever Zak Knettel combined to hold the Rockets to four hits as Toledo's lone run came in the top of the ninth inning for the only earned run the Rockets would post throughout the series.
In game two, Pusateri (3-2) followed Brubaker with another strong pitching performance to lead Akron to a 2-0 shutout.
Pusateri tied his career-high seven strikeouts for the second-straight outing after tossing a career-high 7.0 innings. The right-hander allowed six hits and walked none.
An RBI single from Lees put Akron ahead 1-0 in the second inning. After reaching on a walk, sophomore Dom Iero scored Akron's insurance run on a Toledo error in the seventh frame.
Senior Matt LaRocca toed the rubber in the ninth to pick up his fifth save of the season after striking out two of his four batters faced. He, Pusateri and Mosbarger combined to strikeout 10 Rockets.
Toledo starter Caleb Shillace (2-4) was handed the loss after throwing a complete game where he held Akron to five hits and two runs, both unearned.
Akron is back in action when it travels to Buffalo, N.Y., to take on Canisius in a midweek match-up on Wednesday, April 1. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
