The University of Akron Athletics

Sprockett Walk-Off Lifts Zips to 9-8 Win and DH Split
April 30 | Baseball
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AKRON, Ohio – Freshman Michael Sprockett (West Chester, Ohio) launched an 0-2 fastball over the right field fence with senior Justin Barr (Pensacola, Fla.) on first base to lift the Akron Zips to a walk-off 9-8 win in game two of the Crystal Clinic Orthopeadic Wagon Wheel Challenge against Kent State at Skeeles Field on Saturday.
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Sprockett homered in his final two at-bats of the game as Akron cleared the playing surface six times in two games. Akron held a 6-2 lead heading into the final inning, but eight consecutive hits by the Flashes turned into six runs and Kent State led 8-6. Senior Bryant Shellenbarger (Mount Vernon, Ohio) led-off the bottom of the ninth inning and Barr walked to setup Sprockett's late game heroics. Shellenbarger hit two homeruns in the 9-inning contest and freshman Ian Pennington (Springboro, Ohio) opened the game with a solo-blast. The Zips fell 17-2 in the opening game as Kent State hit seven homeruns.
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On the day, Shellenbarger led the Zips with a 5-for-7 performance, including three homeruns, a double, three RBI and four runs scored. Senior Jerry Reinhart (Batavia, N.Y.) went 3-for-7 with a run scored, while Sprockett, Pennington, Barr and graduate Nick Arrivo (Ann Arbor, Mich.) pounded out two hits each.
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Akron and the Flashes will be back in action for the series finale on Sunday, May 1. First pitch is scheduled for Noon. Fans can follow the action live on Zips Digital Network or via live stats on GoZips.com.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cruikshank, Ben (2-2)
L: Fett, Anthony (0-8)
Batting:
2B: Pennington, Payton 1 ; Timbrook, Mack 1 ; Longwell, Aidan 1 ; Mathews, Collin 1 ; Elsen, Nick 1
HR: Kirby, Justin 2 ; Longwell, Aidan 1 ; Casey, Jacob 1 ; Johnson, Josh 1 ; Mathews, Collin 1 ; Miknis, Justin 1
RBI: Timbrook, Mack 1 ; Kirby, Justin 6 ; Longwell, Aidan 2 ; Casey, Jacob 1 ; Johnson, Josh 1 ; Mathews, Collin 4 ; Miknis, Justin 2
SH: Pennington, Payton 1
SF: Kirby, Justin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pennington, Payton 1 ; Timbrook, Mack 3 ; Kirby, Justin 3 ; Longwell, Aidan 2 ; Casey, Jacob 1 ; Johnson, Josh 2 ; Mathews, Collin 2 ; Miknis, Justin 1 ; Ashby, Connor 2
HBP: Pennington, Payton 1 ; Johnson, Josh 1

Batting:
2B: Shellenbarger, Bryant 1
HR: Shellenbarger, Bryant 1
RBI: Shellenbarger, Bryant 1 ; Hara, Kaito 1
SF: Hara, Kaito 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Shellenbarger, Bryant 2
HBP: Cavey, Breydan 1 ; Haas, Jackson 1 ; Sprockett, Michael 1