#7 Zips Fall to #2 Ohio, 2-0, in MAC Tourney Opening Round

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AKRON, Ohio– The seventh-seeded Akron softball team opened play at the 2017 Mid-American Conference Championship with a 2-0 loss to second-seeded Ohio on Wednesday afternoon at Firestone Stadium.

The Zips (26-29 overall) will now face No. 6 seed Miami (Ohio) on Thursday, May 11, at 6 p.m. in the second round of the MAC's double-elimination tournament.

The Bobcats (37-14 overall) threatened to score in the bottom of the sixth inning with bases loaded on no outs, but the Zips' tough pitching and defense were able to get out of the inning without giving up any runs. A great play by junior SS Jenna Jones (Fulton, Ill.) made a great play throwing the runner out at home that kept the game scoreless.

The teams went six-and-half scoreless innings. In the bottom of the seventh, the Bobcats' Madison Clayton had a two RBI walk-off home run for the win.

Overall, the Bobcats out-hit Akron, 5-4. The Zips committed one error.

Freshman lefty Lexie Handley (Mogadore, Ohio), the 2017 MAC Freshman of the Year, went the distance. She struck out two and walked one while giving up six hits.

 

2017 Mid-American Conference Championship Bracket & Results

Firestone Stadium • Akron, Ohio

Wednesday, May 13
Game 1: #4 Kent State 4, #5 Ball State 1
Game 2: #8 Western Michigan 3, #1 Central Michigan 1
Game 3: #2 Ohio 2, #7 AKRON 0
Game 4: #3 Northern Illinois 5, #6 Miami 4

Thursday, May 11
Game 5: #5 Ball State vs. #1 Central Michigan • 10:30 a.m.
Game 6: #4 Kent State vs. #8 Western Michigan • 1 p.m.
Game 7: #2 Ohio vs. #3 Northern Illinois • 3:30 p.m.
Game 8: #7 AKRON vs. #6 Miami • 6 p.m.

Friday, May 12
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 7 loser • 10:30 a.m.
Game 10: Game 8 winner vs. Game 6 loser • 1 p.m.
Game 11: SEMIFINAL: Winners from Games 6 & 7 • 3:30 p.m.
Game 12: Winners from Games 9 & 10 • 6 p.m.

Saturday, May 13
Game 13: Game 11 loser vs. Game 12 winner • 10:30 a.m.
Game 14: CHAMPIONSHIP: Winners from Games 11 & 13 • 1 p.m.
Game 15*: Game 14 rematch • 30 min. following conclusion of game 14

* if necessary