Weekend Sweep Ups AU Baseball Record To 6-1
February 29, 2004

The Ashland University baseball team improved its record to 6-1 Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 27-28) with a four-game sweep at Ohio Valley. The Eagles looked to be in mid-season form as they recorded 14-0 and 16-2 victories on Saturday. On Sunday the Eagles added two more wins, beating the West Virginia school, 7-4 and 18-1.

On Saturday, senior centerfielder Brandon Cornell was 3-for-4 in the lid-lifter. Senior catcher Josh Gaub was 2-for-2 and rapped a two-run homer. Senior infielder Eric McDaniel belted a triple on the way to a 3-for-4 game and freshman infielder Casey Jirsa also went 3-for-4.

Junior righthander Cody Castle went the first five innings to get the win. He was touched for one hit. Freshman lefty Matt Patton worked the final two innings.

In the nightcap, sophomore outfielder David Waters and Cornell were 2-for-4. Waters had a double and Cornell had a double and homer. Junior outfielder Allen Ayers went 3-for-3 with his first homer of the season. Junior Ryan Douglas earned the win with five strong innings of work. He gave up two runs while walking three and striking out nine. Junior righthander Matt Pignato hurled the last two frames.

In Sunday’s first game, Ayers went 2-for-4 and Waters and freshman first baseman Ron Oneson were 2-for-4. Waters and Oneson both slugged a double. The win went to junior righthander Todd Martinelli. In five innings he scattered five hits. He was charged with four runs, three earned. Martinelli didn’t walk a batter and struck out one. This was his second start of the season.

Martinelli was relieved by senior righthander Chad Moore, who pitched one scoreless inning. The save went to freshman righthander Josh Davidson. The Lexington, OH, product gave up one hit and struck out two while pitching a scoreless seventh inning.

Davidson earned the win in the nightcap, pitching four scoreless innings. He walked one and struck out four while limiting the home team to three hits. Freshman lefty Dan McGinnis, sophomore righthander Jim Barry and Moore all followed Davidson with one inning of work apiece.

Those four pitchers were backed by a 15-hit attack. Cornell went 3-for-3 with three homers and five RBI. Barry was 2-for-2 with a double and sophomore Ray Frisbee went 3-for-4 with a double and four RBI.

Ashland returns to action on Thursday (Mar. 4) when the Eagles open their Florida trip with a game against Salem International.