DAYTON – The University of Dayton baseball team will take on Akron in a midweek contest on Tuesday at Woerner Field. First pitch for the contest is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
There will be live stats available as well as a video stream with a paid subscription to ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING THE FLYERS
The Flyers are coming off a 4-1 week and sit 8-15 overall, including taking three of four from Kent State this past weekend. Against the Golden Flashes, Dayton opened the series with a 14-2 victory on Friday, getting home runs from graduate students Alex Brickman and Eddie Pursinger as well as eight innings from senior Hunter Wolfe on the mound. The Flyers fell on Saturday before heading to Kent State and taking both games of a doubleheader. Senior Riley Tirotta homered and doubled in the victory and in game two senior Cole Pletka earned Atlantic 10 Co-Pitcher of the Week for his seven inning shutout of Kent State. The senior tied a career high with 10 strikeouts while allowing just two hits.
 
Junior Benjamin Blackwell leads the team offensively, pacing the Flyers with a .309 batting average. Junior Marcos Pujols is right behind him hitting .298, and sits second on the team with 16 RBIs and is tied for second with four stolen bases. Brickman leads the team with six home runs and 17 RBIs as well. Pursinger and Tirotta have also driven in their fair share of runs, with each above 15 on the year. Senior Mitchell Garrity tied the program record with his 48^th career hit by pitch on Sunday. He is now tied for first with Cole Tyrell, who was also hit 48 times from 2007-2010.
 
Wolfe has been dominant on the mound in his past four starts, allowing two runs or fewer and compiling at least eight strikeouts over the span. The senior leads the conference with 46 strikeouts, giving him 171 for his career, just eight behind Charlie Dant for 10^th on the all-time list in program history. Senior Andrew Zapka has also been a staple of the Dayton bullpen, posting a 0.96 ERA in 9.1 innings this season.
 
SCOUTING THE ZIPS
Akron was predicted to finish 11^th in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll after finishing 1-12 a year ago in the shortened 2020 season. This season the Zips are 9-6 after dropping three of four to Bowling Green this past weekend. This will also be Akron's first road game of 2021, with their first 15 contests being played at home.
 
The Zips sit second in the conference with a .289 team batting average. They are led by Justin Barr, who is hitting .364 in 15 games this season. Barr is one of four Zips to post at least 10 RBIs and has also hit two home runs. Cameron Tilly leads the team with four home runs and 16 RBIs to go with his .320 batting average. Both he and Barr have started all 15 games for Akron this season.
 
On the mound, Taed Heydinger has been the main force for them in their rotation, posting a 1-1 record in three starts this season. Heydinger boasts a 2.12 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 17 innings. Connor Steinbaugh has also been good for the Zips, leading the team with 31 strikeouts in four starts, posting a 0.55 WHIP and a 2.49 ERA. Mark Meyer has been solid out of the bullpen as well, leading the team with three saves and an ERA of 1.59 in 5.2 innings this season.
 
MATHUP HISTORY
This will be the fourth meeting all-time between these two schools, with the last contest coming on April 15, 2015. Dayton holds a 2-1 edge over Akron and has won the last two games against the Zips.