The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Buffalo
Zips Host Buffalo on Saturday and Sunday
April 10 | Softball
WHATS AHEAD
The Akron softball team returns to Lee R. Jackson Field to host the Buffalo Bulls in a three-game conference series from April 11-12.
HOW TO FOLLOW
GM1: April 11 vs Buffalo | 1 PM | Video | Stats
GM2: April 11 vs Buffalo | 3 PMÂ | Video | Stats
GM3: April 12 vs Buffalo | 12 PMÂ | Video | Stats
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
Under head coach Craig Nicholson, Akron enters the 30th season of intercollegiate competition in 2026. The Zips return 17 players from the 2025 squad and added six newcomers to the 2026 roster. Akron returns four All-MAC honorees. Earning First Team All-MAC accolades were outfielder Meagan Lee and infielder Sophia Wygast, while redshirt pitcher Madie Jamrog and outfielder Andrea Day were named to the All-MAC Freshman Team.
The Zips are 20-19 overall and own a league-best 12-3 record in MAC play. Akron is 5-1 at home, 10-7 on the road and 5-11 in neutral site games. The Zips have four players batting near .300 or better led by Meagan Lee (.378) with 48 hits in 127 at-bats. Lee has scored 30 runs, collected 15 RBI and 13 walks. Sophia Wygast follows with a .328 batting average on 39-for-119 with a team-high 40 RBI, while recording eight doubles and a team-high eight home runs. Lily Sullivan (.328) and Haley Glass (.296) round out the group. Sullivan is 38-for-116 and Glass is 21-for-71 with 23 and 16 RBI, respectively. Sullivan holds the team-high in doubles (10), while Glass has four home runs and four doubles.
In the Circle, Madie Jamrog (8-5) and Macy Walters (10-9) provide a one-two punch. Jamrog owns a 3.97 ERA with 97.0 innings pitched in 18 appearances and 15 starts. Opponents hit .312 against Jamrog with 127 hits for 55 earned runs (68 total) with 44 strikeouts and 26 walks.
Walters owns a 4.43 ERA with 110.2 innings pitched in 23 appearances and 19 starts. Opponents hit .303 against Walters with 135 hits for 70 earned runs (80 total) with 44 strikeouts and 48 walks.
MAC STANDINGS
Zips softball was picked to finish fourth in the Preseason MAC Coaches' Poll, but quickly shot up the leaderboard with an opening weekend sweep Ball State by scores of (18-6, 5-3 and 1-0), Akron then mover to 5-1 in the standings with a 2-1 performance against Miami (4-3, 11-3 and 7-8). The Zips dropped the third series of the year at Western Michigan (2-1), winning the first game 5-2 and falling by walk-offs the following day, 4-3 and 4-1. The Zips hosted Toledo and swept the Rockets 3-0 by scores of 9-1 (5 inn), 9-6 and 10-9. Akron recently swept Kent State 13-5, 4-2 and 20-6.
School                    MAC – Overall - Streak
Akron                        12-3     20-19     W6
Northern Illinois        9-5    15-11     W3
Central Michigan       9-5     18-15     W4
Miami                         9-6     27-12     W1
Ohio                           9-6     26-14    L1
Toledo                         8-7     12-25     W1
Western Michigan       7-8    18-19     L4
Kent State                   7-8    17-19    L3
Buffalo                        7-8     18-22     L1
Massachusetts             5-10   13-22   W1
Bowling Green             4-11     16-20   L1
Ball State                    3-12     15-20   L5
2026 MAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll(First Place Votes)
1. Miami – 116 points (8)
2. Ohio – 108 points (1)
3. Ball State – 98 points (2)
4. Akron – 93 points (1)
5. Central Michigan – 77 points
6. Toledo – 72 points
7. Northern Illinois – 71 points
8. Western Michigan – 41 points
9. Buffalo – 40 points
10. Bowling Green – 34 points
11. Massachusetts – 23 points
12. Kent State – 19 points
MAC Tournament Champion: Miami (5), Ohio (5), Akron (1), Ball State (1)
