Zips Win Season Opener, Splits Opening Day

Friday, February 7

Spartanburg, SC

10:00 AM

University of Akron

1-0

Monmouth

0-1

Akron

Monmouth

February 07 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Akron softball started the season with a 7-1 win over Monmouth before falling to USC Upstate 10-7 on Friday for 2025 opening weekend. The Zips pounded out 22 hits in two games as Lily Sullivan led the way with a 5-for-7 performance with a homerun, two RBI and three runs scored. Alexis Campbell followed with 4-for-7 with a homerun, two RBI and a run scored.

GAME 1 - vs MonmouthAkron received contributions from every part of their lineup, as all nine starters reached base safely, helping the Zips place seven runs on the board to defeat the Hawks 7-1 Friday.

At the plate, Campbell went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Freshman Andrea Day put together a standout performance at the dish in her collegiate debut, blasting a home run and two RBI. Sullivan also chipped in for Akron, putting together three hits in four trips to the plate.

Freshman Maddelynn Lee (1-0) got the win for Akron (1-0). The right-hander went five innings, giving up one run on three hits, allowing one walk and striking out five. Sophomore Madie Jamrog also pitched well, going two shutout innings while allowing one hit, walking one and striking out one.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Akron fell behind 1-0 after the first inning and grabbed control of the scoreboard in the second inning and never looked back. Lily Sullivan recorded the Zips first hit of the season to leadoff the second frame and Alexis Campbell followed suit in Akron's next at-bat. With two runners on Autumn Bailey was hit by a pitch and Sullivan scored as Haley Sanchez drew an RBI walk. Two batters later Morgan Sizemore drove in Akron's second run with an RBI single to right field, allowing Campbell to cross the plate.

The Zips put another crooked number on the scoreboard in the fifth inning with five runs on six hits. Sophia Wygast started the rally with a single to centerfield and freshman Andrea Day recorded her first collegiate homerun with a 2-RBI shot over the right field wall. Campbell followed with a 2-run blast to left center field after Sullivan registered her second hit of the day. Bailey scored the final run of the frame on a Brooke Sivek bunt.

GAME NOTES

» Akron got three-hit games from both Sullivan and Campbell.
» Lee struck out five Hawks hitters.
» Every Akron starter reached base safely in the win.
» Akron's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed five runs across.
» The Zips had control of the rest of the game after jumping ahead of the Hawks 2-1 in the top of the second.
» The Zips out-hit the Hawks at a 14-4 clip.
» Akron pitchers faced 27 Monmouth hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out six.
» The Zips drew six walks from Monmouth pitching.
» Campbell led the Zips at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.

GAME 2 vs USC Upstate
Sophia Wygast collected four RBIs as she tied the game 6-6 in the fifth inning, but the Akron Zips fell to the South Carolina Upstate Spartans 10-7 on Friday.

Wygast went 1-for-3 with a grandslam and a walk in addition to her four RBIs for the Zips. Sullivan furnished a standout performance at the dish as well, going 2-for-3 with a homerun and two RBI. Sivek also helped out for Akron, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding a walk.

Junior Haley Croyle (0-1) came out of the bullpen for Akron (1-1) and took the loss.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Zips got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Akron scored twice, with one run coming across on freshman Sydney 's single.
The Zips lost the lead they built in the first, but got back on the board in the fifth trailing 6-2. Akron hit two home runs in the inning on the way to pushing five runs across. which brought the Zips lead to 7-6. The Zips were unable to hold the lead, as South Carolina Upstate scored four times over the remaining two innings to grab the 10-7 win.

GAME NOTES
» Wygast drove in four runs for the Zips.
» Akron's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed five runs across.
» Akron went 5-for-6 (.833) with runners in scoring position.
» Akron pitchers faced 31 South Carolina Upstate hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out two.
» Wygast led the Zips at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and four RBI.