Zips pitch their way to sweep of Purple Eagles

By Terry Rabbitts, Writer

Erin Seiler and Paige McMenemy’s strong pitching performances allowed UA’s women’s softball team to take a pair of non-conference games from the Niagara Purple Eagles Tuesday afternoon.

 

The Zips took game one by a 2-0 count, while the offense blasted 17 hits to win the nightcap 8-0.

 

The two victories push the Zips’ record to 25-18-1 on the season. The 25 wins equal the total from a year ago with nine games remaining.

 

Seiler hurled seven innings, giving up just two hits and one walk while striking out five. It was the 25th complete game of the year for Seiler, who was named MAC Player of the Week on Monday.

 

Akron scored in the bottom of the first when Taylor Kirian reached on an error to score Savannah Fruin who had hit safely earlier in the inning.

 

That was all the offense that Seiler needed, but Carley Childress laced a single to left to score Alyssa Nichols in the third inning for the insurance run.

 

In the second game, McMenemy baffled the Purple Eagles for six innings, striking out two, allowing four hits, and giving up three free passes.

 

Meanwhile, the offense struck early once again. Kirian blasted a ball over the fence for a two-run triple and later scored on a wild pitch to give Akron a 3-0 lead.

 

Kirian added to the advantage with a double in the fourth inning to score Childress, who had already doubled in the frame.

 

In the sixth inning — the lead now at 6-0 — the Zips ended the game early by run rule when Caitlin Gambone and Lilly Piper led off the inning with singles. After a sacrifice bunt, Gabrielle Fredericks drove both of them home with another base hit.

 

For the game, both Kirian and Fredericks had three hits in four at bats, while Kirian added three runs batted in and Fredericks added two.

 

A total of 10 Zip players had hits in the second game.

 

Akron returns to play this weekend as the Zips host Bowling Green at Lee Jackson Field. The two teams will play one game Friday at 3 p.m., and then two games on Saturday with the first pitch at 3 p.m.