Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, March 26
Akron, Ohio
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
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Akron
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Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Softball Sweeps Akron En Route to Series Win
3/26/2016 5:33:00 PM | Softball
Amanda Akles finished the day with nine RBIs
AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University softball team swept the University of Akron Saturday, March 26, at Lee R. Jackson Softball Field to win the weekend Mid-American Conference series, 2-1. The Eagles (11-16, 2-1) overpowered the Zips (14-15, 1-2) in game one (11-5) before a pitching duel ended, 3-1, in favor of the Green and White in the rubber match.
EMU's offensive outburst was led by freshman Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra) while four other Eagles tallied mulitple hits on the day. Akles finished 5-for-7 with nine RBIs and two runs scored, highlighted by two homers.
In the circle, freshman Nicolle Miranda (Wilmington, Calif.-Port of Los Angeles) and junior Abbie Minsker (Howell, Mich.-Hartland) pitched complete games to earn a win a piece. Miranda went the distance in game one, giving up five runs on eight hits while striking out one to earn her fifth win of the season. In the rubber match, Minsker turned in one of the best outings of her career. Pitching a career-high seven innings, the junior hurler did not allow an earned run while tying a career-best with four strikeouts.
Game #1: Eastern Michigan 11, Akron 5
As they had one day prior, the Eagles jumped on the Zips early, plating a few courtesy of a first inning home run. With two out and two on, Akles blasted an offering up and out for a three-run shot. The long ball marked the fourth homer of the season for the La Habra, Calif. product.
A grand slam by Akron in the bottom of the second turned a 3-0 lead into a 4-3 deficit for the Green and White before EMU's bats produced two runs in the top of the fourth. A leadoff single by Akles was followed by a double by sophomore Haley Hostetler (New Haven, Ind.-Woodlan), putting runners on second and third with two outs for sophomore Brandice Olmos (Riverside, Calif. - Grand Terrace). Connecting on the first pitch of the at bat, Olmos ripped a two-run single down the right field line, giving EMU a 5-4 edge.
Eastern's production at the plate with two outs carried over to the fifth inning where the Green and White plated two more. With two down, junior Michelle Kriegshauser (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way Central) singled after a walk by senior Abi Clark (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton), setting the table for Akles. Finding a gap in right field, Akles' seventh two-bagger of the season allowed both Clark and Kriegshauser to cross the plate, extending EMU's lead to 7-4.
The Zips scored one in the bottom of the fifth but the Eagles got it back in the sixth thanks to a sacrifice fly by freshman Olivia Logan (Riverview, Mich.-Riverview). The timely hit by Logan gave the Eagles an 8-5 lead heading to the final frame.
Akles made her second trot around the bases in the seventh, blasting her second homer of the game. Olmos capped the three-run frame with an RBI-single, pushing the Eagles' lead to 11-5, with Akron's last at bats on the horizon.
Akron put the leadoff batter on but Miranda needed just six pitches to retire the next three batters, securing the 11-5 victory for the Eagles.
Game #2: Eastern Michigan 3, Akron 1
A complete game masterpiece from Minsker lifted the Eagles to a win in game two. The Howell, Mich. product allowed just one run over seven innings while receiving just enough run support to give the Eagles the win, 3-1.
A miscue by Akron's second baseman in the first inning allowed the Eagles to take an early lead before the Zips answered in the third, evening the score at one.
The score remained locked at one heading into the sixth with the Green and White coming to bat. As they did in game one, the middle of the lineup came through in the clutch for Eastern Michigan. Clark's two-out single was followed by a double by Kriegshauser, setting the table for the hot-hitting Akles. Digging into the batter's box with the go-ahead run on third and an insurance on second, Akles singled to right field. The two-run single put EMU in front 3-1 with Minsker heading back out to the circle.
A pair of strikeouts and a ground ball took care of the Zips in the sixth before Minsker closed the door in the seventh, lifting the Green and White to a 3-1 victory.
With the sweep of Saturday's doubleheader, the Eagles won the weekend road series with the Zips, 2-1, marking the first time EMU has beat a conference opponent twice in one season since 2013.
Eastern Michigan looks to carry over the momentum to Tuesday, when it opens play at Varsity Field. The Eagles midweek doubleheader with the Titans of the University of Detroit Mercy is slated to begin at 1 p.m.
EMU's offensive outburst was led by freshman Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra) while four other Eagles tallied mulitple hits on the day. Akles finished 5-for-7 with nine RBIs and two runs scored, highlighted by two homers.
In the circle, freshman Nicolle Miranda (Wilmington, Calif.-Port of Los Angeles) and junior Abbie Minsker (Howell, Mich.-Hartland) pitched complete games to earn a win a piece. Miranda went the distance in game one, giving up five runs on eight hits while striking out one to earn her fifth win of the season. In the rubber match, Minsker turned in one of the best outings of her career. Pitching a career-high seven innings, the junior hurler did not allow an earned run while tying a career-best with four strikeouts.
Game #1: Eastern Michigan 11, Akron 5
As they had one day prior, the Eagles jumped on the Zips early, plating a few courtesy of a first inning home run. With two out and two on, Akles blasted an offering up and out for a three-run shot. The long ball marked the fourth homer of the season for the La Habra, Calif. product.
A grand slam by Akron in the bottom of the second turned a 3-0 lead into a 4-3 deficit for the Green and White before EMU's bats produced two runs in the top of the fourth. A leadoff single by Akles was followed by a double by sophomore Haley Hostetler (New Haven, Ind.-Woodlan), putting runners on second and third with two outs for sophomore Brandice Olmos (Riverside, Calif. - Grand Terrace). Connecting on the first pitch of the at bat, Olmos ripped a two-run single down the right field line, giving EMU a 5-4 edge.
Eastern's production at the plate with two outs carried over to the fifth inning where the Green and White plated two more. With two down, junior Michelle Kriegshauser (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way Central) singled after a walk by senior Abi Clark (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton), setting the table for Akles. Finding a gap in right field, Akles' seventh two-bagger of the season allowed both Clark and Kriegshauser to cross the plate, extending EMU's lead to 7-4.
The Zips scored one in the bottom of the fifth but the Eagles got it back in the sixth thanks to a sacrifice fly by freshman Olivia Logan (Riverview, Mich.-Riverview). The timely hit by Logan gave the Eagles an 8-5 lead heading to the final frame.
Akles made her second trot around the bases in the seventh, blasting her second homer of the game. Olmos capped the three-run frame with an RBI-single, pushing the Eagles' lead to 11-5, with Akron's last at bats on the horizon.
Akron put the leadoff batter on but Miranda needed just six pitches to retire the next three batters, securing the 11-5 victory for the Eagles.
Game #2: Eastern Michigan 3, Akron 1
A complete game masterpiece from Minsker lifted the Eagles to a win in game two. The Howell, Mich. product allowed just one run over seven innings while receiving just enough run support to give the Eagles the win, 3-1.
A miscue by Akron's second baseman in the first inning allowed the Eagles to take an early lead before the Zips answered in the third, evening the score at one.
The score remained locked at one heading into the sixth with the Green and White coming to bat. As they did in game one, the middle of the lineup came through in the clutch for Eastern Michigan. Clark's two-out single was followed by a double by Kriegshauser, setting the table for the hot-hitting Akles. Digging into the batter's box with the go-ahead run on third and an insurance on second, Akles singled to right field. The two-run single put EMU in front 3-1 with Minsker heading back out to the circle.
A pair of strikeouts and a ground ball took care of the Zips in the sixth before Minsker closed the door in the seventh, lifting the Green and White to a 3-1 victory.
With the sweep of Saturday's doubleheader, the Eagles won the weekend road series with the Zips, 2-1, marking the first time EMU has beat a conference opponent twice in one season since 2013.
Eastern Michigan looks to carry over the momentum to Tuesday, when it opens play at Varsity Field. The Eagles midweek doubleheader with the Titans of the University of Detroit Mercy is slated to begin at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Miranda, Nicolle (4-11)
L: SEILER (13-9)
Batting:
2B: Clark, Abi 1 ; Akles, Amanda 1 ; Hostetler, Haley 1
HR: Akles, Amanda 2
RBI: Logan, Olivia 1 ; Akles, Amanda 7 ; Olmos, Brandice 3
SH: Barnes, Myranda 1 ; Davidson, Abby 1
SF: Logan, Olivia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Logan, Olivia 1 ; Clark, Abi 2 ; Kriegshauser, Michelle 1 ; Lopez, Lucy 1 ; Akles, Amanda 2 ; Schilke, Angel 1 ; Davidson, Abby 1 ; Hostetler, Haley 1 ; Olmos, Brandice 1
CS: Whitbeck, Elaine 1
Batting:
3B: FREDERICKS 1
HR: FRUIN 1
RBI: TARPLEY 1 ; FRUIN 4
SH: SCHLOSSER 1
Base Running:
RUNS: FREDERICKS 1 ; GAMBONE 1 ; TARPLEY 1 ; GILLESPIE 1 ; FRUIN 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
4
RBI
7
AB
3
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
3B/1B
/ Softball
SS/2B
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
1B/3B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball2B/SS
/ SoftballThank You, Team 38
Monday, May 07
Overcoming Adversity: A Lauren Holdsworth Feature
Saturday, February 24
Closing Out a Legacy: Michelle Kriegshauser
Thursday, May 18
EMU Softball Signs Alyssa Feiler
Saturday, March 25