Montgomery, Ala. – The University of Akron softball team completed its sweep of Alabama State Sunday afternoon beating the Hornets 9-2 at Fain Park in the Hornet Invitational.

The Zips got on the board early against ASU scoring after lead off hitter senior Lisa McLean (Canton, Ohio/Perry) led off with a walk. Fellow senior Amber Lowe (Carrollton, Ohio/Carrollton/Cleveland State) reached first on a bunt and after both stole second base, senior Cali Stratton (Liberty, Mo./Liberty) stepped up to the plate driving them in with another bunt.

In the second inning the Zips would resume their rally adding two runs starting when sophomore catcher Sarah Stromack (Grafton, Ohio/Keystone) led off the inning with a single. After a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Sarah Earley (Venetia, Penn./Peters Township) advanced her to second she scored when McLean landed on first with a single. After stealing second McLean came home when Lowe grabbed her second hit of the day with a single.

McLean led off the fourth inning with another base hit and after stealing second base scored (5-1) off an ASU error which put Lowe on first base. Lowe came home after senior Julie Boyes (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake) grabbed a single giving the Zips a five-run advantage.

The Zips scored their last runs of the contest in the sixth inning after Earley reached base with her first hit of the game putting down a single. McLean would reach first base for her fourth time off an error by the ASU shortstop and would steal second to tie the single game team stolen base record with the tenth of the day. Batting after McLean, Lowe reached base on a single and set the record stealing the 11th and 12th stolen base of the game.

Lowe, McLean,  Earley and junior Krista Hansen each contributed to the stolen base record with Lowe leading the pack with five. The previous record of ten was set in 1992.

In the contest freshman pitcher Andrea Arney (Dalton, Ohio/Dalton) struck out the last two batters, totaling eight on the day, for her first win as a collegiate pitcher.

The Zips faced struggles on the mound in the second contest falling 11-2 to the University of Tennessee at Martin Seahawks. 

After UTM scored three runs in the bottom of the first, Akron took advantage of two Seahawk errors to get on the board (3-1) in the second inning.  The Zips would threaten in the sixth inning after they loaded the bases but were only able to grab one run when pinch hitter, freshman Allison Dorr (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro), drew a walk to drive in the second Zips run of the game.

Despite the loss, McLean posted her first triple of the season after finishing the 2008 season second on the national list in triples per game (.17).

The Zips will continue tournament action next Friday at the College of Charleston Cougar Classic.