North Summit News

The Akron Zips scattered 12 hits and scored seven runs, but couldn't hold off Eastern Michigan who posted three come from behind efforts for the 8-6 win.

Sophomore OF Sam Seeker (Norton, Ohio) led the offense with three hits in four at-bats, generating three RBI and scoring two runs. Junior OF Jack Poist (Hoover, Ala.) and sophomore OF Ian Pennington (Springboro, Ohio) followed as both players went 2-of-5 at the plate, while Poist recorded an RBI and run scored.

Eastern Michigan (7-4, 1-0 MAC) plated the first run as 1B Josh Kross homered to right field in the first inning, but Akron (4-8, 0-1 MAC) answered with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. The Zips scored the trio of runs on five hits, including a two RBI single by Seeker that scored freshman 1B Ethan Schimony (State College, Pa.) and senior IF Nick Arrivo (Ann Arbor, Mich.).
Sophomore C Andrew Horvath (Aurora, Ohio) followed with a single to centerfield, scoring Seeker from second base.

The eagles tacked on one run in the third, fifth and sixth innings to take a 4-3 advantage, but it didn't last long as Akron answered in the bottom of the sixth as Seeker led-off with a single and Poist doubled down the leftfield line for an RBI. Junior IF Kaito Hara (Houston, Texas) followed with a single to plate Poist and give Akron a 5-4 lead.

EMU manufactured a run to tie the game, receiving a double after a lead-off walk and groundout. Once again, Akron responded with a go-ahead run as Arrivo drew a walk and Jenkins was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Arrivo scored on an infield single by Seeker for a 6-5 lead.

The Eagles reestablished a one-run lead and added an insurance run in the ninth for an 8-6 advantage. In the bottom of the ninth, the Zips came within one run as junior OF Jack Firestone (Zionsville, Ind.) cleared the playing surface with a solo homerun to centerfield, but the Zips couldn't plate the tying run.

Game two of the series is scheduled for a 2 p.m. first pitch on Saturday, March 11, however due to weather concerns the schedule may be altered.

Original source can be found here