Courtesy: Jeff Harwell-Zips Sports Photography Akron second baseman Kevin Haas had three hits in the Zips' 10-8 win Friday.

BEAUMONT, TEXAS – On a cool and very windy day that led to an abundance of offense and adventurous fielding at times, Akron (4-4) scored six runs in the fourth en route to a 10-8 victory over home-standing Lamar (6-4) Friday evening at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

Both teams scored early and often, but UA starter Frank Turocy (2-1) settled down to pick up the win. He allowed 10 hits and eight runs (five earned) with four walks and three strikeouts in six innings. His younger brother, Drew Turocy, was 4-for-5 with a home run and double as he, Kevin Haas (3-for-5) and Phil Bednar (1-for-4) each drove in two for the Zips.

Akron continued its trend in 2008 of scoring early. In the top of the first, Brett Savage and Haas started the game with consecutive singles. While Savage was retired on a ground out, Haas would score from second on a wild pitch for the 1-0 lead.

However, the Cardinals, who played in three of the last five NCAA Tournaments, answered in the home half with three runs for a 3-1 advantage. Anthony Moore had a leadoff bunt single and moved to second on an error. Tyler Link followed with a bunt single of his own, putting runners on the corners. Moore would score on a passed ball and Link would score on a Zip error. Jeff Vickers, who reached on the second UA miscue, would eventually score on an RBI single to left by Brian Taylor.

D. Turocy cut his team’s deficit to one, 3-2, with a two-out, solo home run to left-center field for his first career blast. Lamar once again had the answer. Chris Dunkin had a leadoff double and scored two batters later on a two-run home run by Moore to give LU a 5-2 cushion after two complete.

Another Akron player registered his first career round-tripper in the top of third as sophomore Haas lined one over the left-field wall to make the score 5-3. The Cardinals answered yet again, adding a tally in the bottom of the third. Brent Harris had a leadoff single and, after a double play, was on third. David Moore hit a pop-up, but the wind allowed the ball to fall for an RBI single for a 6-3 Lamar lead.

The fireworks continued in the fourth as the Zips sent 10 men to the plate and scored six runs off four hits and two LU errors to go up 9-6. With one out, John Turk drew a walk and reached second on a Lamar error. D. Turocy looped an RBI single down the left-field line, scoring Turk. Bednar had a two-run single and Savage reached on an error by the left fielder, allowing a run to score. Haas followed with an RBI double and Davidson delivered a sacrifice fly to center. Doug McNulty capped with scoring with a RBI single.

In the home half, the Cardinals trimmed their deficit to one, 9-8, scoring twice on a hit and a UA error. Lamar loaded the bases with walks to Jeremiah Sammy, A. Moore. Vickers had an RBI single and Lamar would load the bases again with a walk to Harris. With one out, Akron attempted a double-play. While the Zips got the out at home, a throwing error allowed the second run of the inning to cross.

The Zips extended their lead to 10-8 in the top of the fifth. Turk walked, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on D. Turocy’s double to center.

After all the scoring, in the bottom of the fifth, the Zips retired the side in order for the first 1-2-3 inning and the first zero for a frame on the scoreboard. Akron answered in kind with a 1-2-3 top of sixth and neither team would score the rest of the way.

UA relief pitcher Garrett Knoll was impressive, holding the Cardinal offense in check over the seventh and eight innings. He got one out in the ninth before allowing a single and giving way to Zips’ closer Tom Farmer. (Knoll struck out four of the nine batters he faced and did not allow a walk.) Although Farmer allowed a single and had runners on first and second, he got a fly out and a ground out to end the game and earn his second save of the season.

For Lamar, Matt Morgal (1-1) took the loss, allowing eight hits and nine runs (four earned) in four innings pitched.

Akron will return to action in the Lamar Classic Saturday morning, facing New York Tech at 10 am (CT)/11 am (ET) and face host Lamar later in the day with first pitch scheduled for 4 pm (CT)/5pm (ET).