Mid-American Conference

AKRON, Ohio -- The seventh-seeded University of Akron softball team upset No. 6 seed Northern Illinois, 9-5, at the 2015 Mid-American Conference Championship on Thursday evening at Firestone Stadium.

The Zips (25-25 overall) now face No. 1 seed Kent State on Friday, May 8, at 1 p.m. in the third round of the MAC's double elimination tournament.

The win was Akron's first in MAC tourney play since 2009 when the Zips lost their first game before winning three straight to advance to the semifinal round.

The Huskies, who finished the season at 28-25 overall, scored two runs in the top of the second.

Akron retaliated with five runs in the bottom of the second. Sophomore outfielder Savannah Fruin (Del Ray Beach, Fla.) nailed a two-run homer to right center field, her second home run of the tourney. With two outs, the Zips added three more runs as senior second baseman Kellie Roudabush (Hilliard, Ohio) reached on an error for an RBI, bringing home senior pitcher Sara Pearson (Somerville, Ohio), who tripled. Freshman outfielder Taylor Kirian (New Riegel, Ohio) also tripled to right, scoring Roudabush. Sophomore third baseman Alyssa Nicholas (Cortland, Ohio) singled, bringing home Kirian.

UA added an insurance run in the bottom of the third as Pearson hit a two-out double to center field, scoring Fruin, who reached on a double.

The Zips went ahead 9-2 with three more runs in the fourth.

NIU threatened with two run in the top of the sixth, but defense in the seventh sealed the Zips' win.

Pearson picked up her second win in the circle (2-5 overall), hurling a complete game. She fanned seven batters and walked four.

Overall, Akron out-hit NIU, 11-7. The Huskies committed three errors to UA's one.