Zips Split Doubleheader With NIU on Friday; Roll to 12-2 Win in Game 2

Friday, April 18

DeKalb, IL

12:00 pm

University of Akron

10-26, 4-15

Northern Illinois

14-22, 4-12

Akron

Northern Ill.

Zips Split Doubleheader With NIU on Friday; Roll to 12-2 Win in Game 2

April 18 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Boxscore (PDF) GM 1 Boxscore (PDF) GM 2

DEKALB, Ill. - The Akron baseball split a doubleheader on the road with the Northern Illinois Huskies on Friday.

GAME 2 | Akron 12, Northern Illinois 2
Akron got contributions from every part of their lineup, as all nine starters reached base safely, helping the Zips put 12 runs on the board and knock off the Northern Illinois Huskies 12-2 Friday.

The Zips had four players collect multiple hits, with Caden Matlon's 3-for-5 day leading Akron. Evan Bottone went 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI. Jack Poist went 2-for-3 with three runs, two RBI and one walk. Andrew Horvath went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI against the Huskies. Ian Pennington went 1-for-4 with three RBI and scoring once.

Dawson Tourney (2-3) got the win for Akron (11-26, 5-15). The left-hander went five innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on six hits, allowing two walks and striking out seven. David Moore also pitched well, going three shutout innings while allowing two hits, walking one and striking out one to earn his first save of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Trailing 2-0, the Zips first put runs on the board in the fourth inning. Poist came across to score the lone run of the inning for Akron and get them on the board.

The Zips kept the deficit at 2-1 before tying the score in the fifth. Kyle McConachie came across to score the lone run of the inning for Akron, which brought the score level at 2-2.

That 2-2 tie turned into a 4-2 Akron lead in the sixth. The Zips scored two runs off of Northern Illinois pitching, punctuated by a run-scoring double from Poist.

Akron held the Huskies scoreless before their offense got things moving the next inning. The Zips scored seven runs in the inning, highlighted by four RBI singles from Matlon, Poist, Horvath and Pennington while Charlie Schebler hit a double to increase the Zips lead.

The Zips held Northern Illinois off the scoreboard before building on their lead to 12-2 the following inning. Bottone came across to score the lone run of the inning for Akron and get them on the board. The score remained 12-2 for the rest of the game, as the Zips coasted to the win.

GAME NOTES
» Matlon compiled three base hits in the game for Akron.
» Tourney struck out seven Huskies hitters.
» Every Akron starter reached base safely in the win.
» Akron's highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed seven runs across.
» Four Zips had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Zips out-hit the Huskies at a 14-8 clip.
» Akron went 7-for-17 (.412) with runners in scoring position.
» Akron pitchers limited Northern Illinois to just 2-for-11 (.182) with runners in scoring position.
» Akron pitchers faced 34 Northern Illinois hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out eight.
» Poist led the Zips at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI.

GAME 1 | Northern Illinois 5, Akron 4
The Akron Zips fell 5-4 in a 10-inning matchup to the Northern Illinois Huskies Friday.

Johnny Anservitz (1-2) took the loss on the mound for Akron (10-26, 4-15). Sean Perkins was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going 2.2 innings, surrendering one run on two hits, walking two and striking out five.

Offensively, the Zips were paced by Horvath, who went 2-for-5 on the day with an RBI. Schebler furnished a standout performance as well, going 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI. Bottone also helped out for Akron, putting together two hits in five trips to the plate.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Zips got on the scoreboard first, starting in the third inning. Akron got an RBI single from Bottone, scoring Kyle McConachie from first base.

The Huskies then rallied to score three runs and take a 3-1 lead before the Zips got back on the board in the eighth. which brought the score to 4-3 in favor of the Zips. The Zips were unable to hold the lead, as Northern Illinois scored two times over the remaining two innings to grab the 5-4 win.

GAME NOTES
» Jared Schaeffer struck out six Huskies hitters and Perkins fanned five for Akron.
» Every Zips starter reached base safely in the loss.
» Zips pitchers combined to strike out 12 Northern Illinois hitters.
» Akron's highest scoring inning was the eighth, when it pushed three runs across.
» Akron left 10 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» The Zips out-hit the Huskies at an 11-10 clip.
» Akron pitchers faced 41 Northern Illinois hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out 12.
» Horvath led the Zips at the plate, going 2-for-5 with an RBI.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Akron and Northern Illinois conclude the series with a single game on Saturday, April 19.