AU Softball Splits with Golden Knights
April 19, 2003

By Joe Monaco, AU Sports Information

Complete Box Scores
Game 1     Game 2

Splits are only satisfying when they come with bananas.

However – the AU softball team will settle for a split against conference opponent Gannon after two hard-fought battles at Brookside Park on Saturday (Apr. 19).

Ashland is 35-11, 11-3 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference while the Golden Knights are 20-15, 4-4 in conference action.

The Eagles struck first blood in game one with a 3-2 victory. Junior Josie Nelson (Prior Lake, MN/Jordan) pitched a complete-game, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out 14 Gannon hitters. Her record is 21-4. She moved into second place for the single season strikeout record with 272 and needs only 25 more to surpass her 2001 strikeout mark of 296.

Six batters combined for six hits for the Eagles with sophomore Sara Mathes (Massillon, OH/Jackson) and freshman Mary McCabe (Boardman, OH) each adding RBI doubles in a winning cause.

Allison Gerger and Joanna Fergus each added solo home runs for the Golden Knights while Casey Brengle collected two hits.

Heather Ford picked up the loss after throwing seven innings, allowing three runs – two earned – on six hits and striking out eight hitters. Her record is 10-8.

In game two, Gannon’s Megan Smith kept the Eagles off-balanced all game as she threw a complete game five-hitter in a 3-2 victory. Her record is 2-1.

With the score 2-1, Fergus drilled a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning to give Gannon the lead and ultimately the win.

Junior Leslie Eberhardt (Jeromesville, OH/Hillsdale) took the loss for AU after hurling seven innings, allowing three runs – one earned – on four hits. Her record dropped to 14-7. Shay Mulford (Plainfield, OH/Ridgewood) added a double for the Eagles.

Ashland will be back in action on Wednesday (Apr. 23) with a doubleheader against Wayne State on the road. Game time is set for 4 p.m.