“The Zips women’s softball team opened up their homestand this weekend against Buffalo (15-27, 4-8 MAC) and Kent state (24-17, 5-9 MAC). The Zips (17-27, 5-9 MAC) played Buffalo in a doubleheader Friday winning both games (1-0) and (8-7) in a different fashion.”
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The Zips women’s softball team opened up their homestand this weekend against Buffalo (15-27, 4-8 MAC) and Kent state (24-17, 5-9 MAC).

The Zips (17-27, 5-9 MAC) played Buffalo in a doubleheader Friday winning both games (1-0) and (8-7) in a different fashion.

Akron’s first game of the doubleheader resulted in a 1-0 win, with Akron scoring the first and only run in the bottom of the first inning.

The only run in the game was credited to senior Krista Hansen, who hit a hard double into right field driving in freshman Alissa Birkhimer.

Pitching game one for the Zips was junior Alex Riedeman, who gave up no runs and struck out three.

Offensively the Zips were led by sophomore Alex Helfrich, who went 2-for-3. Two other Zips had at least one hit as well in the contest.

The Zips then went on to win their second game of the double header 8-7 with a walk off triple by junior Sarah Early in extra innings.

Starting on the mound for the Zips was junior Riedemen, who pitched 5.2 innings, struck out three and gave up three earned runs. Junior Heather Bauer also came into the game for relief, pitching 4.1 innings, while striking out two and giving up only one unarmed run.

Leading the offense for the Zips was Hansen who went 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored.

Sarah Early also went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a triple.

On Saturday, Akron celebrated the 1984 and 1985 National Runners up, but were unable to grab a win against rivals Kent State, losing the game 4-0.

The game was a one hit contest until the third, and was scoreless until the fourth when Kent State scored the first run with a solo home run.

Bauer, the starter on the mound, pitched a complete game struck out seven while only giving up three earned runs.

Kent State added one more run in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh to get the win.

Helfrich, and juniors Monica Shorter and Sarah Stromack all had one hit each in the contest.

Sunday also proved to be just as unlucky as Saturday for the Zips, who went on to lose to Kent State 9-1.

The game remained scoreless until the fourth when Kent State was able to score off a double down the left field line.

Kent State went on to score one run in the fifth and seven in the sixth to give them the win.

Akron scored their only run in the bottom of the sixth inning off of a solo home run hit by Hansen.

Alex Riedemen would pitch 5.2 innings giving up five earned runs and striking out two.

Akron offensively was led by Hansen, Birkhimer and Helfrich all with one hit each.

The Zips return to Lee Jackson Field April 26 at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. in a doubleheader against Niagara.

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