The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Radford
Zips Begin 2025 Season At Radford
February 13 | Baseball
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Game 1+2 (Feb 14): Video (GM1) | Video (GM2)  | Stats (Both Games)
Game 3 (Feb 16):Â Video | Stats
INSIDE THE SERIES
All-Time: 1-2 | Faulds vs Radford: First Meeting
First Met: Mar. 4, 1995 (L, 12-5) at Radford
Last Met: Mar. 5, 1995 (L, 6-5) at Radford
Akron faced the Highlanders in a three-game series in 1995 where they fell in game one 12-5 before taking game two 6-3. Radford won the series with a 6-5 win in 10 innings in game three.
COMMON OPPONENTS
Mercyhurst (NEC)
SCOUTING REPORT
The Highlanders finished the 2024 season with a 16-34 overall record and a 7-16 record in the Big South. Radford posted a 12-13 record at home comapred to a 4-21 record on the road.
Radford will host three series at home to begin the season while traveling to James Madison and Tennessee for a pair of mid-week non-conference battles. One of those early season home series is against Murcyhurst (NEC), who the Zips will host to end the regular season.
Other notable opponents include Duke, who the Zips played last season and won a game against the Blue Devils in Durham, N.C.
Spencer Horwitz, who was acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates after a pair of trades from Toronto and Cleveland, spent three seasons at Radford (2017-19) before being drafted in the 24th round of the 2019 MLB draft.
The Highlanders were led by Cameron Pittman last season in batting average (.357) and triples (8). Zack Whitearce led the way in hits (66), stolen bases (15) and was in a three-way tie for doubles (12). Carson Bell provided a team-high 10 homeruns and was tied for the team lead in doubles. Connor Butler finished the season in the lead for RBI (40). Scott Rouse led the Highlanders in wins (4), strikeouts (78) and was tied for the lead in innings pitched (69.2). Brecklin Nace led the way in ERA (3.18) while Drew Stanleyhad the lead in saves (3).
The Highlanders were picked to finish 8th in the Big South while Hunter Keen and Drew Stanley were named to the preseason all-conference team.
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
The Zips finished the 2024 season with a 15-39 overall record, a 10-20 record in the MAC. The Blue and Gold was 3-14 at home and 9-22 on the road. The Zips will travel to begin the season, as the Blue and Gold will play 12 straight games away from Skeeles Field before hosting Oakland on March 5.
Before dropping series to Kent State and Ohio to conclude conference play last season, the Zips had won three straight series which featured a pair of sweeps against Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan while taking 2-of-3 games against Western Michigan.
The Zips were led by Max Bowman in batting average (.321), hits (63), triples (4), home runs (7) and RBI (44). Sam Seeker and Jack Poist shared the lead for doubles (15) while Post had the most stolen bases last season (21). Three Zips recorded three wins, which included All-MAC selection Jared Schaeffer. Schaeffer also led the Akron pitching staff in strikeouts (61), innings pitched (81.1) and ERA (4.32). Sean Perkins had the most saves for the Zips (3).
Notable returners from last season include Schaeffer, Perkins, Bowman, Poist, Jack Kelley and Evan Bottone.
In total, Akron returns 18 players from last season while welcoming 17 newcomers
Akron was selected to finish 11th in the MAC Coaches Preseason Poll.
LAST TIME OUT (AT OHIO 5/17/24)
ATHENS, Ohio - The Akron Zips took a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning, but could not hang on as they fell 2-1 to the Ohio Bobcats Friday.
Offensively, the Zips were led by Austin Lafferty, who went 1-for-4 on the day with a triple. Charlie Schebler put together a noteworthy effort as well, going 1-for-4 with an RBI. Andrew Horvath also contributed for Akron, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate.
Spencer Atkins (1-3) started on the mound for Akron (15-39, 10-20). The right-hander went 6.2 innings, giving up one run on two hits, allowing five walks and striking out two. Yassir Kahook was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going 1.1 shutout innings without allowing a hit. Sean Sperkins got the loss after allowing one run on two hits.
The Zips got on the scoreboard first, starting in the sixth inning. Akron got an RBI single from Schebler, scoring Lafferty from third base. The Zips were unable to hold the lead, as Ohio scored two times over the remaining three innings to grab the 2-1 win.
AWAY FROM HOME
The Zips will play their first 12 games away from Skeeles Field before hosting Oakland on March 5. The Zips will travel to Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina before returning to the Buckeye State.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2024
- Head coach Bryan Faulds collected his first win leading the Akron Zips in the second game of a doubleheader against Illinois on February 14.Â
- Jared Schaeffer became the first All-Conference selection for the Akron Baseball team since returning to the diamond in 2020. The right-handed transfer from St. Edwards (Texas) finished the season leading the Akron pitching staff in innings pitched (81.1), strikeouts (61) and ERA (4.32). Throwing one complete game in 2024, he threw seven or more innings in six of his final eight starts. Schaeffer finished third in the MAC in ERA, second in innings pitched and second for walks allowed (13).
- Throwing eight innings against the Golden Flashes (May. 10), Jared Schaeffer struck out a career 10 batters which featured him striking out the side in the third. He allowed five hits, three earned runs, walking one while hitters hit only.167 against him.
- The Zips swept Central Michigan for the first time in program history after winning the third game of the series 8-5 on May 5, 2024.
- The Zips won the second game of a three-game series against Duke on March 2, 2024, 4-2. The win was the first top-10 victory for the Zips since the program came back in 2020. Akron scored three runs in the sixth inning and saw five quality innings from Sean Perkins to capture the win.
- Sean Perkins was named the MAC Pitcher of the Week on March 4 after picking up a win over No. 10/12 Duke. Coming in down 2-1 against Duke in the second game of the series, Perkins pitched five innings of near-spotless baseball as the Zips defeated the No. 10/12 Blue Devils 4-3 on March 2. Throwing the final five innings, Perkins held his own with just two hits allowed along with one run and two strikeouts to earn the win. He sent Duke three-up-three down in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings and ended the ninth with a strikeout. Perkins also held Duke's hitters to a combined .118 batting average over the five innings of work.
- University of Akron pitcher Jared Schaeffer was named the Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Week on April 22. Throwing his first career complete game, Schaeffer helped lead the Akron Zips to a 7-2 victory over Eastern Michigan on Saturday, April 20. The Sophomore righty went the full nine innings where he allowed just two unearned runs, none earned, walking none, allowing nine hits while tying his season-high for strikeouts with six k's against the Eagles.
PRO ZIPS
Notable recent alumni of the Akron baseball program playing professionally include J.T. Brubaker and Chris Bassitt. Brubaker was a 6th round pick in 2015 by the Pittsburgh Pirates and currently plays for the New York Yankees. Bassitt was taken by the Chicago White Sox in the 16th round in 2011 and currently plays for the Toronto Blue Jays.
STREAKS AND STATS
Evan Bottone led the Zips with a 42-game on-base streak last season while Max Bowman was the only other Zip to reach base in 20 or more games (25). Six other Zips recorded streaks of 10 or more games.Â
Three Zips had 15 or more multi-hit games the past season, with Bowman leading the way with 18. Sam Seeker and Evan Bottone recorded 17 each.
Bowman also held the lead for multi-RBI games for the Zips the past season with 12. He was joined by Charlie Schebler (10) and Jack Poist (10) for Zips who recorded 10 or more games.
MEET THE RETURNERS
Akron returns 18 players from last seasons squad. Parker Munday, Austin Lafferty, Evan Bottone, Charlie Schebler, Jared Schaeffer, John Allen, Ian Pennington, Jack Kelley, Josiah Ross, Elijah Griffith, Sean Perkins, Jacob Beall, Max Bowman, Jack Poist, Andrew Horvath, Nicky Sackett, Dawson Tourney and Brett Dietrich all return from the 2024 squad
WHO'S NEW
Akron welcomes 17 newcomers to the roster this season with nine freshmen and eight transfers. The Zips welcomed Kyle McConachie, Bradyn Shaw, Landon Vandegrift, Derek Occhipinti, Nathan Currah, Jack Fenton, Sean Flowers, Ty Pangborn, Jackson Frasure, Taylor Bednar, Caden Matlon, Blake Bowen, LA Mighton, Will Heisler, Jett Slepak, Johnny Anservitz and David Moore entering the 2025 season.
ON DECK
The Zips stay on the road as they travel to Louisville, Ky., to face Bellarmine on February 19 before facing the Skyhawks of Tennessee Martin in Martin, Tenn., for four games starting on Feb. 21.
