” The University of Akron baseball team is embarking on its final road trip over spring break. The Zips (5-6) managed to place themselves in a good heading into Mid-American Conference play. The team won its first series of the season last weekend against University of North Carolina Wilmington and split a two game with Stony Brook.”
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The University of Akron baseball team is embarking on its final road trip over spring break. The Zips (5-6) managed to place themselves in a good heading into Mid-American Conference play.

The team won its first series of the season last weekend against University of North Carolina Wilmington and split a two game with Stony Brook.

I feel like we have gotten better each week, UA head coach Pat Bangtson said. The most promising thing, especially after New Mexico State, was to see the pitching staff bounce back, primarily our starters.

The series against New Mexico State was a rough one for the Zips, who won the first game in the series to avoid being swept in four games.

Akron rebounded on the mound, by only walking five batters in four games last weekend, something that the team strives for.

We need to continue that throughout the year, Bangtson said.

While the starting pitchers are throwing more strikes, one pitcher, junior Ben Danziger is setting the pace for the team.

Ben did a great job, Bangtson said of Danziger.

Danziger relied on locating his fastball, throwing 97 pitches for a complete game shutout. Fifty-eight of those pitches were strikes.

His composure and his mental make up allows for that, Bangtson said.

While Danziger was only one pitcher for the series he did credit UA pitching coach Brian Donohew.

Our starters job is to give our team a chance to win and all four games this weekend we did that, Danziger said.

However the success Danziger enjoyed will not allow him to move up from his number three spot in the rotation.

The rotation we have set right now, is not just something that comes up through the last two weekends.

While the team is racking up wins they’ve struggled elsewhere.

Alex (Loftin) was good but he has pitched better, Bangston pointed out as an example. Your going to have off weekends your not going to have all three of your starters that are going to throw great all weekend.

The biggest thing we’re looking to do, especially when playing eight games in nine days is…to develop that set-up relief of our bullpen.

All they have to focus on is one game a day and have fun while they are doing it.

But four of the eight Zips next opponents won conference championships in 2009.

This year’s squad has already started off stronger than last years team.

I think were just more ready this year, senior first basemen Kyle Hallett said. We did a lot more work in the off season than last year.

MAC player of the week

Right-handed pitcher Loftin and first basemen Hallett both received recognition as MAC players of the week.

It motivates me to try and get it again or try and stay as good as I was doing, Hallett said, keeping his focus to how he can help the team.

Loftin, a sophomore, stated his happiness to receive the honor for the third time.

It’s good to show success early in the season, Loftin said. It’s a good feeling but hopefully we keep going on as a pitching staff and keep winning some ball games.

That’s a great honor for two Akron baseball players. There are 12 teams in the MAC, six teams in each division, and that’s an awesome accolade for the both of us.

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