University of Toledo
AKRON
Toledo Drops Two Games to Akron in Season Finale
5/7/2005 12:00:00 PM | Softball
May 7, 2005
Toledo, OH - Toledo (26-29, 5-16 MAC) finished up the 2005 season after dropping two games to Mid-American Conference East Division foe Akron (27-27, 10-12 MAC), 5-0 and 4-3, today. The Zips' Tina McCauley (20-17) shut down UT in game one, only to come back in the nightcap for her second win of the day. The Rockets out-hit Akron in game two, 10-8, but left 11 batters stranded to suffer the one-run defeat. Despite these losses, the Rockets can be proud of their performance this season, as the program has not done this well since the 1997 campaign when UT went 27-33.
The Zips quickly jumped on Toledo's starter, RHP Kim Pettitt, to plate two runs in the top of the first inning in game one. A single by Jaclyn Spirtos scored both Kerry Omerza and Rebecca Stern.
After stranding four batters in their next four innings at bat, the Rockets were bombarded once again by UA's bats. Two runner-on-second singles by the Zips plated two more runs in their favor to move ahead, 4-0.
McCauley's stellar pitching held UT hitless in its final three innings, as Akron would plate one more insurance run in the top of the seventh to take a 5-0 victory.
Pettitt (14-14) suffered the loss for the Rockets in her complete-game showing. She allowed seven hits for five runs while fanning three batters. McCauley delivered her fourth shutout of the season, allowing a mere three hits while fanning seven batters to pull her season K's total to 210.
The Rockets three hits were delivered by senior 2B Kris Shultz (1-for-2, walk), junior SS Gina Muratori (1-for-3) and freshman 1B Leslie Stong (1-for-3).
Pettitt stepped in the circle to start game two to mark her 104th career start for the Rockets. By accomplishing this feat, the senior takes sole possession of the No. 1 spot on UT's all-time career records list. However, she got off to a rocky start and gave up three runs on four hits before handing the game over to sophomore RHP Stephanie Moore.
The Zips got off to another early lead in the nightcap, connecting for a double, single and two homers to lead, 3-0, after the first inning.
Just when it looked like the Rockets were going to answer back with a few runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning, sophomore CF Erica Singer flew out to center field with the bases juiced.
After a hitless second inning by both teams, Akron came back again in the top of the third to plate one more run. Stern, who walked and then stole second and third, advanced home on a ground ball by Kerry Omerza. The play at home was too late, as UA was up 4-0 on Toledo.
UT started its comeback in the fifth and sixth innings by scoring three runs and trailing by one. After leaving two base runners stranded in scoring position at the end of both innings, the Rockets' fate was sealed.
In the fifth, Shultz and junior 2B Jennifer Susman both singled to place runners on first and second. A single by Muratori moved Susman to third and Shultz scored, unearned, after Akron's catcher dropped the ball on the play at home. Toledo's second run of the inning was scored when Muratori attempted to steal second, but held up to distract the Zips from Susman at third, who came across the plate to put UT down by two. Singer singled and stole second to put the Rockets at second and third, but a foul out by freshman 3B Brittany Robbins ended the inning.
Senior LF Kate Moxim walked in the bottom of the sixth inning to lead off for the Rockets, and would score after being moved to second by Shultz's single and crossed home plate on Muratori's single to right field. Another scoring opportunity by UT was cut short as McCauley struck out her sixth batter of the game.
Toledo could not capitalize on its 10 hits in game two to fall, 4-3. McCauley took the win, while Pettitt (14-15) suffered her second loss of the day. Moore hurled a total of 6.2 innings, allowing four hits for one run while fanning three batters.
The Rockets were led at the plate by two perfect showings from Shultz (4-for-4, run scored) and Muratori (3-for-3, RBI, walk). Muratori extended her hitting streak to 10-games -- a season high for her. Shultz ended her Rocket career on a high note with her plate performance today, recording only two hitless games in her last 14 outings.
In addition to the losses, today was also a sad day in that Toledo bid farewell to three special Rocket seniors; Kate Moxim, Kim Pettitt and Kris Shultz.
