Akron Zips | |
---|---|
Founded | 1873 |
University | University of Akron |
Location | Akron, OH |
Home stadium |
Lee R. Jackson Field (Capacity: 1,500) |
Nickname | Zips |
Colors | Blue and Gold |
NCAA Tournament appearances | |
1996 | |
Conference tournament champions | |
1996 (MAC) | |
Conference champions | |
1954 (OAC), 1991 (MCC) |
The Akron Zips baseball team was a varsity intercollegiate athletic team of the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, United States. The team played in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) from 1993 until 2015. Home games were played at Lee R. Jackson Field from 1967 to 2015.
The program was established in early 1873 during the school's first academic year and played in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) from 1954–1966, the Ohio Valley Conference from 1981 through 1987, and the Mid-Continent Conference for the 1990, 1991, and 1992 seasons. The Zips began competition in the MAC in 1993 and were placed in the East Division when it was created in 2000. The team had one appearance in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which came in 1996 following their only MAC Tournament Championship. Additionally, the Zips won the 1954 OAC championship and the 1991 Mid-Continent Conference title.
On July 10, 2015, Akron announced the baseball program would be eliminated, effective immediately, after having fielded the sport since 1873 and uninterrupted since 1947. The university cited budget problems as the main reason for ending the program. A group of baseball alumni formed in an effort to try to save the program. Players were permitted to remain on scholarship to finish their degree, though most transferred to other schools to continue their playing careers.
Akron has had 22 Major League Baseball Draft selections since the draft began in 1965.