“The last meeting the Zips softball team had against the Dayton Flyers was on April 5, 1992 with Akron claiming 4-0 and 4-2 wins, but Tuesday proved to be much different with the Zips losing both their games (10-1) and (4-3) in a double header. We’re just not executing and that’s the bottom line, head coach Julie Jones said.”
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The last meeting the Zips softball team had against the Dayton Flyers was on April 5, 1992 with Akron claiming 4-0 and 4-2 wins, but Tuesday proved to be much different with the Zips losing both their games (10-1) and (4-3) in a double header.

We’re just not executing and that’s the bottom line, head coach Julie Jones said.

The Zips (13-21) struck first against Dayton (15-25-1) when senior Krista Hansen scored off of good heads up base running and again when Dayton left home plate unprotected after junior Heather Bauer fouled out to third, crediting Bauer with a sacrifice fly.

Akron held Dayton down with a shutout until the fourth inning, when Dayton scored with an RBI single and a three run homerun to left center field.

Dayton then responded again in the fifth inning with six more runs.

Akron scored one more run in the fifth inning, but it proved to be their last and final run as the final score was 10-1.

Offensively the Zips were led by Hansen who batted 2-for-2 with a double and a walk.

Krista has been the most consistent out of all of us. Whether it’s getting lead off hits or playing solid defense, Jones said.

Junior Alex Feltes and Heather Bauer both had RBI for the Zips, while Akron as a team had a total of five hits.

Getting the start on the mound for Akron was junior Alex Riedemen, who pitched a total of 3.1 innings, giving up three earned runs and four hits.

Sophomore Andrea Arney came into the game pitching 1.2 innings, giving up five earned runs and four hits.

Akron’s second game of the double header ended in heartbreak fashion as Dayton scored a run in the seventh to win 4-3.

The Zips had a chance to tie the game back up in the bottom of the seventh, but Akron went down in a 1-2-3 fashion.

You can’t score in the first inning and then do nothing for the rest of the game, Jones said. That’s just ridiculous.

The Zips scored three in the first inning when freshman Alissa Birkhimer drove in two runs with a double down the left field line.

Sophomore Allison Dorr then grounded out to second, but was able to drive in a run.

Dayton scored runs in the second, third, fifth and seventh innings.

Offensively Akron was led by Birkhimer who went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Hansen and Feltes also had one hit each.

Riedeman pitched 6.2 innings, giving up four earned runs and four hits, while striking out three.

The Zips will return to Lee Jackson Field April 23 to play Biffalo at 1 p.m. They will then travel to Mt. Pleasent, Mich. to play Central Michign.

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