“After Thursday’s game was canceled due to rain, the Zips Softball team continued its play in the Winthrop Eagle Bash in Rock Hill, S.C. going 1-3 and dropping their record to 10-12. The Zips’ first game was on Saturday against Winthrop (18-11), when they lost 5-0.”
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After Thursday’s game was canceled due to rain, the Zips Softball team continued its play in the Winthrop Eagle Bash in Rock Hill, S.C. going 1-3 and dropping their record to 10-12.

The Zips’ first game was on Saturday against Winthrop (18-11), when they lost 5-0.

Akron put themselves in a good position to score, getting lead off runners on in four of seven innings, but were unable to capitalize on it.

The Winthrop Eagles held the Zips to only two hits.

The Eagles scored three runs in the first inning and one run each in the third and fifth innings.

Sophomore Andrea Arney pitched six full innings, giving up five earned runs and eight hits.

Offensively, the Zips were led by senior Krista Hansen and freshmen Cassie Gleisner with one hit each.

The Zips lost their second game 8-0 to North Carolina Agriculture Technical University (9-14).

I was very disappointed with Saturday’s performance overall, UA head coach Julie Jones said. We did not play to our potential, which has been a persistent problem thus far.

On a good note, it was freshmen Alissa Birkhimer’s pitching debut.

She pitched two and one-third innings, giving up two earned runs and six hits.

Meanwhile junior Heather Bauer gave up three earned runs and six hits in two innings.

Birk threw well, particularly for her first appearance this season, Jones said. She still has a lot of work to do, but she has made great improvements since coming to Akron.

Akron’s Birkhimer, Bauer and junior Alex Feltes all had one hit each in their 8-0 loss to NC A&T.

The Zips broke even Sunday by going 1-1 overall, but received a loss against Winthrop 2-1.

Bauer went 2-for-3 with one RBI, while five other Zips had one hit each in the contest.

Junior Alex Reideman got her first start on the mound pitching over six innings and giving up two earned runs.

She pitched a very good game against Winthrop scattering hits and throwing a ton of ground balls, Jones said.

The second game of Sunday’s doubleheader proved to be a good one, as Akron won 4-3 against NC A&T.

Bauer led the offense and batted 1-for-2 with her first career home run.

Feltes also contributed by going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base.

Arney got the win, and improved her record to 5-7 in relief, giving up two hits and no earned runs.

Riedeman, who started the game, gave up three hits and three earned runs as well.

I was pleased with our play on Sunday, Jones said. We played good defense and pitched much more consistently which contributed to two well played games.

With last weekend’s games finished, the Zips will now open up their conference play against Ohio University at home.

Game times are April 3 at 2 p.m. and April 4 at 1 p.m. at Lee Jackson Field.

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