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AU Baseball Slips
Past GVSU, 9-8 |
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By Joe Monaco, AU Sports Information The Ashland University baseball team handed conference rival Grand Valley State a 9-8 setback at Donges Field on Saturday (Mar. 27). The Eagles held a 9-3 lead going into the seventh inning before the Lakers slowly chipped away. With the score 9-7 and bases loaded, reliever Ryan Douglas (Loveland, OH) came into the game and proceeded to sit down the first GVSU hitters he faced. After hitting a batter, the AU southpaw recorded two groundouts to end the game. It was the first save of the season for Douglas. AU starter Josh Davidson (Lexington, OH) started the game and tossed six innings allowing seven runs on 12 hits. He struck out seven GVSU hitters and surrendered only one walk in the game. He improved his record to 3-2. Junior Allen Ayers (Columbus, OH/St. Charles Prep) led the hitting attack with three hits, including a double. He also added three runs scored and two RBI. Mark Kahlenberg (Pemberville, OH/Owens C.C.) connected on two hits. One of his hits was a double. Grand Valley State took a 3-1 lead in the third inning as the Lakers hammered out five hits in the frame. Ashland came back in a flurry in the bottom of the fourth inning by scoring five runs. Freshman Ron Oneson (London, ONT/Saunders Secondary School) started off the scoring barrage by drilling a triple down the right field line then scoring on a Casey Jirsa (Tallmadge, OH) single. With two runners on base, Ayers connected on a double to left field scoring both Jirsa and Kahlenberg, who reached base on a single. Senior Brandon Cornell (Columbus, OH/Bishop Watterson) doubled home Ayers. Ashland upped its record to 17-6 (1-0 in the GLIAC) while the Lakers dropped to 12-8 (3-2 in the GLIAC). In the second game, Grand Valley State held a 1-0 lead before the game was called due to darkness. The game will conclude at 11 a.m. on Sunday (Mar. 28) followed by the regularly scheduled doubleheader. |