On Tuesday, The University of Akron baseball team defeated the Malone Pioneers 10-9 as James Sheltron drove in the game winning run at Canal Park.

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On Tuesday, The University of Akron baseball team defeated the Malone Pioneers 10-9 as James Sheltron drove in the game winning run at Canal Park.

UA, with a record of 5-17, led 6-1 after four innings, but Malone (19-10) fought back to take a 9-7 lead, driving in a run in the top of the eighth.

Akron, however, was able to answer back with a single, a triple and back-to-back doubles to score three runs in the bottom of the eighth to gain the lead back and collect their fifth win of the season.

Junior closer Chris Bassit pitched in the ninth to record his fourth save of the season, while senior reliever Bobby Simone was credited with the win, pitching an inning and striking out one.

Senior centerfielder Drew Turocy was one of four Zips to collect three hits in the game, falling shy of the cycle by only a homerun, while driving in three.

Matt Corpora, Brandon White and Jared Turocy each collected three hits, while Akron as a team recorded a season-high 17 hits in the game.

Freshman infielder Kurt Gambyhit his first career homerun in the third inning, while Turcocy, White and Corpora all had multi-RBI games.

The Zips trailed 9-7 in the eighth, but Akron’s middle lineup regained the lead as White ignited things with a one-out single to the left side. This led to Corpora sending a shot to the corner of right for an RBI triple, cutting the deficit to one. 

Drew Turocy then answered back with a double over first base, which scored the game-tying run.

 James Sheltrown, however, proved to be the hero of the game, doubling into the gap in left center to give Akron a 10-9 lead and the eventual win.

We had some big clutch hits, and it was good to get some different guys in there in a mid-week game, said Bangston. They really came through for us.

In the ninth, Bassitt had to pitch around a walk and a hit, but was able to get Allen Strouble to pop out behind home plate for the game’s final out.

This team wants and believes in Chris Bassit at the end of the game, and they believe it’s our ball game when he comes in, said Bangston.

Akron starter Jon Pusateri allowed a run in the first as Malone took a 1-0 lead when Anthony Cono was hit by a pitch then moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, where he later scored on a single by Bob Suitca.

Pusateri settled in deeper into the game, allowing just two more runs in five innings of work, while giving up four hits and striking out five in the no-decision.

In the second inning, the Zips scored four runs as Jared Turocy hit a two-run single, while Corpora and Drew Turocy each drove in a run with singles. 

An RBI by Gamby in the third and fourth innings and a solo blast to left in the third, along with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, gave Akron a 6-1 lead before the Pioneers responded back.

Malone drove in two in the fifth and four as well as in the sixth to take a 7-6 lead, but Drew Turocy tied the score for UA in the bottom of sixth when he tripled to deep left center to drive in White.

Single runs in the seventh and eighth pushed the advantage to the Pioneers, who drove in two runs before Akron responded with a big eighth inning.

Having the opportunity to execute on bunts or hit-and-runs showed that we put pressure on their defense, said Bangston.

Akron will travel to Toledo, continuing their Mid-American Conference action this weekend, with the first of three games beginning Friday at 3 p.m.

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” #1.2135430:3264986618.jpg:sliding 12 copy 2900 resize.jpg:Brandon White slides into second base in the bottom of the first inning against the Malone University Pioneers. Akron went on to win a back-and-forth game by a count of 10-9:Terrence Salvi”