Written by: Christian Turner

The University of Akron’s baseball team traveled to DeKalb, Ill., over the weekend, where they went 1-2 against the Northern Illinois Huskies.

The Zips won 8-1 Saturday, but fell short on Friday and Sunday with scores of 10-5 and 8-2, respectively.

Freshman left-handed pitcher Pat Dyer, who was recently named Mid-American Conference East Division Player, pitched a stellar nine innings Saturday, facing 35 batters and allowing six hits, with the Huskies only putting one run on the board.

Dyer struck out a career-high seven batters and walked only one. The win marked the second straight victory for the St. Charles Prep graduate. Dyer holds an ERA of 2.86 in two relief appearances and five starts.

The team got the bats swinging right away in the first inning of the game. Outfielder Joe Havrilak started the game with a single to second base. Infielder Tyler Begun followed up with a single to left field, earning the RBI with Havrilak crossing the plate.

In the top of the second inning, first baseman Sam Trecaso singled down the left baseline to start things off. Outfielder Darius Washington got on with a walk, putting runners in scoring position. Infielder Matt Rembielak grounded out to second base, earning an RBI by scoring third baseman Sam Watkins.

The Huskies’ only run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The team went on to score again with a pair of runs in the seventh and eighth innings to close out the match.

Akron ended the victory with 13 hits total.

On Friday, the team went down with senior right-hander Andre Brown taking the loss from the mound. The former Riverside High School pitcher threw for seven innings, allowing eight runs and striking out three batters.

Freshman Dan Becks closed the final inning out, allowing two runs and striking out two.

The team started off strong, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first inning. Northern Illinois came back strong in the bottom of the second inning, creating a big lead and seven runs on the board with only three hits and a number of men walked.

The Zips would score again in the top of the fifth and sixth innings, but it would not be enough to close up the Huskies’ gap.

In the series finale on Sunday, the Zips again fell short at McKinzie Field.

Right-handed pitcher Alex Loftin took the loss from the mound, pitching the first four innings. The Stow, Ohio, native faced 23 batters and allowed nine hits resulting in seven runs.

Senior lefty Scott Foster followed up for two innings, and senior left hander Kevin Gamble closed out the game.

The Zips struggled at the plate, obtaining their two runs of the game in the bottom of the ninth inning.  Watkins began with a single and advanced to second on an error by the Huskies’ center fielder.

Begun hit a deep shot to right field for a triple to get Watkins across the plate.  Havrilak singled to center field, earning the RBI. Washington doubled to the right side, advancing Havrilak to third. The next two batters struck out, leaving two stranded.

Akron will host Bowling Green on Friday in the first of a three-game series this weekend at Canal Park. Saturday and Sunday’s games will be played at 1 p.m.