The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Youngstown State
Akron Hosts Youngstown State For Home Opener
February 25 | Baseball
AKRON, Ohio - The Zips play their first home game of the 2025 season when they welcome the Youngstown State Penguins to Skeeles Field on February 26. This will be the 165th all-time meeting between Akron and Youngstown.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
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INSIDE THE SERIES
Akron Leads 98-66 | Faulds vs Youngstown State: 0-2
SCOUTING REPORT
The Penguins come into Wednesday's contest with a 1-5 record after a six-game swing through the state of Texas. YSU was swept in three games by Baylor to begin the season before going 1-2 against Abilene Christian.
YSU took the final game of the series 8-5. The Penguins jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the Wildcats tied the contest with a three-run sixth. YSU scored in each of its final four at-bats while holding ACU to two runs in the eighth to earn its first victory of the 2025 season.
The Penguins see Trevor Charpie take the reigns this season. He takes over as the 10th head coach in program history after serving as an assistant coach for the Penguins during the 2024 season. He began the campaign as an assistant coach and camp coordinator before being elevated to the role of primary pitching coach midway through the season.
YSU is led by Nathan Beckley in batting average (.400). Kyle Fossum and Beckley share the lead in hits (7) while Cole Smith leads the way in doubles (4). Fossum (2) and Caleb Hadley are the only two Penguins to homer this season while the duo of Fossum and Beckley are tied for the lead in RBI (7).
Harun Pelja holds the only win for the pitching staff while Tyler Heflin is the leader in ERA with a 2.79 mark with a team-high 9.2 innings in two appearances and one start. Jacob Gehring and JJ Tylicki are tied for the most strikeouts (7).
Youngstown State was picked to finish fifth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll.
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
The Zips come into Wednesday with a 2-4 record after a 0-3 week at Jacksonville State this weekend.
Dawson Tourney compiled a career outing out of the pen in game one against the Gamecocks. Throwing four innings of relief, Tourney struck out a career-high eight batters while allowing just two hits and an unearned run.
Wednesday marks the home opener for the Zips after picking up the contest with YSU.
Blake Bowen leads the way in batting average (.381) while sharing the lead in hits with Jack Poist (8). Poist and Andrew Horvath are tied for the lead in doubles (2) while three Zips have homered this season. Charlie Schebler is the leader in RBI (8) while Poist holds the title of most stolen bases (3).
Landon Vandegrift and Sean Perkins hold the two wins for the Zips so far this season while Tourney holds a team-best 1.50 ERA through two appearances and six innings of work. Jared Schaeffer leads the Zips in innings pitched (8.0) while Tourney once again leads the way, this time in strikeouts (11).
COMMON OPPONENTS
Pittsburgh (ACC), Mercyhurst (NEC), Bowling Green (MAC), Toledo (MAC), Oakland (Horizon), Eastern Michigan (MAC).
LAST TIME OUT (AT JACKSONVILLE STATE 2/23)
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Though they had plenty of opportunities, Akron struggled to cash them in, leaving 11 Zips on base in an 11-3 loss at the hands of the Jacksonville State Gamecocks on Sunday.
At the plate, the Zips were paced by Max Bowman, who went 1-for-4 on the day with three RBI. Andrew Horvath furnished a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 2-for-4 with a double. Blake Bowen also added three walks.
Landon Vandegrift (1-1) started and took the loss on the mound for Akron (2-4). Sean Perkins was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going 2.1 shutout innings while allowing one hit, walking one and striking out three.
Trailing 2-0, the Zips first put runs on the board in the third inning. Bowman drove in two runs for Akron with a single, that scored Evan Bottone and Jack Poist.
The Gamecocks then scored nine runs to retake their advantage heading into the ninth inning, when the Zips responded by getting back on the scoreboard themselves. Nicky Sackett came across to score the lone run of the inning for Akron, which tightened the Gamecocks lead to 11-3. The ballgame ended with that ninth-inning rally falling short.
AWAY FROM HOME
The Zips will play nine of their first 10 games away from Skeeles Field. The Zips will travel to Virginia, Alabama and North Carolina.
MEET THE RETURNERS
Akron returns 18 players from last season's 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
Akron travels to Holly Springs, N.C., to battle Purdue at Ting Stadium for four games starting on February 28 before returning to Skeeles Field to host Oakland on March 5.
