Akron’s men’s baseball team played in the 2015 Mercer Baseball Classics where UA went 1-2.

In the game against the Mercer Bears on Friday, Feb. 27 Akron fell short with a score of 6-5. In the second inning, Akron had a lead of 3-0 after senior Matt LaRocca had a two-out, three-homer to left field. Mercer was able to make a comeback in the fourth and fifth innings and took their first lead in the game with 4-3. In the sixth inning, Joey Havrilak and Kris Simonton had back to back hits. Dom Iero and Billy Salem had RBI singles to take a one point lead. Mercer was able to tie the game 5-5 at the bottom of the sixth with a homer. Akron and Mercer stayed tied until the eighth inning. Mercer was able to get an RBI single, giving them a lead of 6-5. Both teams were unsuccessful to score in the ninth inning giving the victory to the Mercer Bears.

Akron started day two of the 2015 Mercer Baseball Classics with an 8-3 win against Belmont. The Zips took their biggest lead of the game in the second inning. UA players who helped take the lead were Kris Simonton when he reached base on a walk and scored, Brian Lees’ single hit to the center, Daulton Mosbarger’s RBI double, and an RBI single from Matt Rembielak. Akron continued with their lead in the fourth and fifth innings with solo homers from Joey Havrilak and Billy Salem putting them at 8-2.

Akron played their final game against Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish started the game with a 3-0 lead over the Zips. The Zips were able to score in the third inning with an RBI single from Joey Havrilak. Both teams went scoreless in the fourth, fifth and sixth inning. Akron was able to make a comeback in the seventh inning, with a score of 4-3. Notre Dame had a RBI triple in the ninth, to win the game, final score 5-4.

Akron will head back on the road March 6-8 to play in the Coastal Carolina Invitational in Conway, South Carolina, where Akron will play host team Coastal Carolina and bitter big rivals, Michigan and Michigan State.