“The University of Akron men’s baseball team fell short of the teams sixth straight win and a series sweep of the Buffalo University Bulls Sunday, but still won the series. After the series win, the Zips record stands at 14-27 overall and 8-10 in the MAC placing them in fourth place in the MAC East.”
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The University of Akron men’s baseball team fell short of the teams sixth straight win and a series sweep of the Buffalo University Bulls Sunday, but still won the series.

After the series win, the Zips record stands at 14-27 overall and 8-10 in the MAC placing them in fourth place in the MAC East. The Bulls are 16-25 overall and 4-13 in the MAC placing them in last place in the MAC East.

The Zips won game one Friday 7-1 behind a complete game winning effort from freshman right-hander Andrew Brown.

Brown went the full nine innings giving up one earned run, scattering 11 hits and striking out six.

Pierre Miville-Deschenes got the loss for the Bulls lasting five and two thirds innings giving up six earned runs on nine hits.

Designated hitter Kyle Hallett led the Zips’ hit parade going 2-3 with a triple, three RBI and one run scored.

Senior captain and right fielder Brett Savage also had two hits and an RBI as the Zips rolled to victory.

In game two on Saturday, the Zips won 4-1 behind another solid winning effort from a freshman right-hander – this time it was Alex Loftin.

After a rocky top of the first inning where he allowed an earned run, Loftin found his groove pitching five straight scoreless innings before being relieved by senior captain Frank Turocy. Loftin’s six strikeouts tied a career high.

You’re always going to be nervous out there, Loftin said. You just have to take a point to settle in, find everything that’s going wrong, make adjustments and be smooth from there on out.

Following his win on Saturday versus the Bulls and an impressive outing Wednesday versus Duquesne University, Loftin was named the MAC East Pitcher of the Week on Monday.

In the two outings, Loftin pitched nine innings, struck out 11 batters and had an ERA of 1.00.

Chris Bassitt came in to the game in the top of the ninth inning and collected his fourth save of the season pitching a scoreless frame.

The Bulls Zach Anderson got the loss going five innings and giving three earned runs on six hits. Anderson committed a mental mistake by balking in a run in the bottom of the first inning.

Left fielder Brandon White and first baseman Brain Kordal each had RBI singles to help the Zips squeak past the Bulls.

It was a good team effort, Loftin said. I give my defense a lot of credit and we got the timely hits when we needed it.

The Zips timely hitting was not as imminent in game three on Sunday as they spoiled a solid effort from right-hander Benjamin Danziger dropping the contest 3-2 to the Bulls.

Danziger suffered the loss lasting six and two third innings and giving up two earned runs on six hits.

Mike Stangroom got the win for the Bulls going six innings, giving up one earned run on five hits and striking out three.

Kevin Crumb picked up his first save of the season for the Bulls pitching an inning and two thirds of scoreless baseball.

Center fielder Matt Roberts’ RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning was not enough to spark a comeback and the Zips dropped a tough one to the Bulls failing to complete the series sweep.

Zips’ head coach Pat Bangtson said he was pleased with the weekend series as a whole.

When you give up a total of five or six runs all series you’re going to have a good chance to win the series, Bangtson said.

Bangtson will return to a familiar place on Wednesday when The Zips travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on The Ohio State University.

Bangtson was an assistant coach/pitching coach for 14 seasons with the Buckeyes before taking the head-coaching job with UA in July 2005.

There’s a lot great friends and great people in Columbus but I have to worry about my team, Bangtson said.

Bangtson will hand the ball to freshman left-hander Scott Foster for Wednesday’s game against the Buckeyes.

I’m looking to get ahead of the batters and throw strikes, Foster said about his approach against the Buckeye hitters.

First pitch is slated for a 6 p.m. start time on Wednesday at OSU.

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