LAKELAND, Fla. - The University of Akron baseball team dropped its fourth straight decision Monday afternoon, losing to Butler 4-3 at Henley Field.
Matt Corpora, Drew Turocy, and James Sheltrown paced the Zips with two hits apiece. Jon Pusateri - making his first career start - picked up a no-decision throwing 5.0 innings and allowing three earned runs. Scott Foster was the losing pitcher of record for UA, giving up the game-winning run in the eighth.
Pusateri was hurt by walks and hit batsmen - two each - in the first and second-inning, as he surrendered a run in the first and two in the second.
Pusateri then pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the third as well, inducing an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play from Griffin Richeson. It was one of a season high three double plays turned by the Akron infield and Pusateri had little trouble in the fourth and the fifth.
Akron was robbed of a tying run in the bottom of the first when Corpora lead of with a double and moved over on a groundout by Turocy. Sam Watkins then ripped a liner right back into the waiting glove of Butler pitcher Dom Silvestro and Corpora was tagged up at third.
The Zips would get on the scoreboard with one run in each of the three middle innings. Turocy broke the ice for Akron in the fourth when he singled, moved to second on a passed ball, and scored on a Samuel Trecaso single.
In the fifth, Sheltrown lead off with a single and moved to third on an errant pick off attempt by Silvestro. Sheltrown then scored on a wild pitch.
Turocy and Sheltrown were involved again in the sixth when he doubled to left with one out and scored on a Sheltrown single through the right side. Watkins also attempted to score on the base hit but was cut down at the plate to end the inning.
Benjamin Danziger pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh, including stranding runners on second and third in the sixth.
The Zips would have scoring opportunities in the seventh - when they left the bases loaded - and in the eighth - when Watkins was stranded on second.
Richeson drove in the game-changing run in the eighth, singling up the middle to drive in Marcos Calderon.
Chris Bassitt pitched a perfect ninth, but the Zips were unable to find a tying run in the bottom of the frame.
Akron has Tuesday off before resuming their spring break trip when they face North Dakota State on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. back at Henley Field.