AU Baseball Ends Florida Trip with Split
March 13, 2004

By Joe Monaco, AU Sports Information

Moviegoers love to walk out of the theater to a happy ending.

Whether it’s the guy fighting his way to get the girl or a team beating all odds in order to win an elusive championship, the ending of a movie has the power to inspire every person.

The Ashland University baseball team didn’t find the ending to its spring trip that it wanted, but nonetheless came away feeling inspired about what the season holds.

The Eagles defeated Slippery Rock, 5-2, in their first game of the day, but dropped the next game to North Dakota State, 8-4, on Saturday (Mar. 13) at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, FL.

In game one, senior Brandon Cornell (Columbus, OH/Bishop Watterson) lifted the Eagles as he blasted a walk-off three-run home run over the right field fence in the bottom of the ninth inning. Cornell finished the day with four RBI.

Ashland held a 2-1 lead over the Rockets going into the top of the seventh inning before The Rock tied the game with a solo home run off AU starter Cody Castle (Dayton, OH/Sinclair C.C.). Castle was tagged with a no-decision after he hurled six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. He struck out six Rock hitters and did not allow a walk.

Junior Ryan Douglas (Loveland, OH) picked up the victory as he threw three innings surrounding only two hits and striking out two hitters.

In the second half of the doubleheader, North Dakota State came back from a 3-0 deficit to score four runs in the third inning to take the lead. Even though AU hitters tallied 12 hits in the game, the Eagles weren’t able to cut into the Bisons’ lead.

Allen Ayers (Columbus, OH/St. Charles Prep) finished with a career-high four hits, including two doubles and a home run. Cornell and Erie McDaniel (Curtice, OH/Owens C.C.) each added two hits apiece.

Junior Todd Martinelli (Gahanna, OH/Columbus State C.C.) suffered the loss as he tossed 4 2/3 innings allowing seven runs on seven hits. He struck out five hitters and surrendered one free pass.

The Eagles concluded their Florida trip with a 16-6 record. AU will begin Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on Saturday (Mar. 20) at Gannon University in Erie, PA. Starting time for the first game of a four-game series will begin at 12 p.m.