Zips Claim Home Opener 11-2 Over YSU

Wednesday, February 26

Akron, Ohio

12:00 pm

University of Akron

3-4

Youngstown State

1-6

Youngstown St.

Akron

February 26 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

AKRON, Ohio -- The Akron Zips opened its home slate with an 11-2 win over Youngstown State as senior Max Bowman racked up four RBIs at Skeeles Field on Wednesday.

Bowman went 1-for-2 with a triple and two walks in addition to his four RBIs for the Zips. Freshman Blake Bowen compiled a standout performance as well, going 1-for-2 with two walks and an RBI. Sophomore Evan Bottone also contributed for Akron, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding an RBI.

Sophomore Elijah Griffith (1-0) started on the mound and picked up the win for Akron (3-4). The right-hander went four innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on three hits, allowing two walks and striking out five. Sophomore John Allen also made an impact on the mound for the Zips, throwing two scoreless innings while allowing one hit, with no walks and four strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Zips were trailing 1-0 in the first inning when they first put runs on the board. Akron managed to push across two runs in the inning.

The Zips then held the Penguins scoreless before expanding their lead in the third inning. which brought the Zips lead to 5-1.

Youngstown State narrowed Akron's lead to 5-2 before the Zips stretched the advantage to 6-2 in the fourth inning.

Akron kept the Penguins without a run before their offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. The Zips scored five runs in the inning, highlighted by a three-run triple off the bat of Bowman, bringing the score to 11-2 in favor of Akron. The score remained 11-2 for the rest of the game, as the Zips coasted to the win.

GAME NOTES
» Sophomore J. Slepak struck out five Penguins hitters and Griffith fanned five for the Zips.
» Bowman drove in four runs for Akron.
» The Akron pitching staff combined to strike out 15 Youngstown State hitters.
» Akron's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed five runs across.
» Akron took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Zips out-hit the Penguins at a 6-5 clip.
» The Zips stole five bases as a team.
» Akron pitchers limited Youngstown State to just 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
» Akron pitchers faced 39 Youngstown State hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out 15.
» The Zips drew eight walks from Youngstown State pitching.
» Bowman led the Zips at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a triple and four RBI.

UP NEXT
Akron is scheduled to battle Purdue this weekend in a fourgame series at Ting Stadium in Holly Spring, N.C. The Zips are scheduled to play one game on Friday, Feb. 28, a doubleheader on Saturday, March 1 and the series finale on Sunday, March 2.