The No. 1 seed University of Akron advanced to the semifinal round of the Mid-American Conference softball tournament with a walk-off 6-5 win over No. 4 seed Ohio University on Thursday, May 7, at Firestone Stadium.
Andrea Day delivered a sacrifice fly to right field with the bases loaded to score Haley Glass with the final run in Akron’s victory in its first game of the double-elimination tournament.
Akron advanced to play at noon Friday, May 8, against the winner of Thursday’s game between Northern Illinois and Western Michigan.
Glass led off the seventh with a double to left. Sophia Wygast walked and was lifted for pinch-runner Ava Hensley. With one out, Glass and Hensley advanced a base on a passed ball, Katie Cantrell walked and then Day hit the sacrifice fly.
Akron (32-23) won despite Ohio hitting four home runs, two by Belle Hummel and one apiece by Izzie Wilson and Jordyn Wycuff. Hummel hit a two-run homer and a solo shot for Ohio (36-19).
Winning pitcher Madi Jamrog (16-6) received support from her teammates as the Zips did not make an error defensively, recorded seven hits offensively and took advantage of an error by the Bobcats. She finished with five strikeouts, allowing seven hits, five earned runs and five walks.
Meagan Lee and Glass once again provided a spark atop Akron’s lineup. Lee totaled two singles, two runs and an RBI, and Glass contributed two doubles, a run and an RBI.
Akron scored two runs in the first inning to lead 2-1. Lee led off with a bunt single and later scored on a passed ball before Lily Sullivan singled and scored on a double by Cantrell.
The Zips scored three in the fourth to lead 5-4. Delaney Jenkinson tripled in Sydney Selker, Lee singled in Jenkinson and Glass doubled in Lee.
Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron softball advances in MAC tournament with walk-off win over Ohio
Reporting by Michael Beaven, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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