Eagles, Timberwolves Divide Baseball Doubleheader
April 9, 2004

The Northwood University Timberwolves qualify as one of the most improved baseball teams in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2004. Friday (Apr. 9) at Northwood, the Eagles saw for themselves just how far the ‘Wolves have come.

NU ended an eight-game Ashland winning streak in the first game of a GLIAC doubleheader. The home team scored two runs in the sixth inning and two more in the bottom of the seventh to earn a 6-5 win. However, AU rebounded to win the nightcap, 17-8.

The Eagles, ranked seventh in the country by the College Baseball Writers of America, are 26-8, 8-2 in conference play. Northwood is 20-11 and 6-6.

Junior righty Todd Martinelli started the first game for AU and lasted five innings. He was touched for four runs on five hits. Junior lefty Ryan Douglas took over in the sixth inning and had everything under control until there were two outs in the bottom of the seventh. That’s when catcher Justin Davis singled and pinch-hitter Bryan Watson homered down the left-field line.

The loss left Douglas with a 3-2 record. The homer was the second of the season for Davis. AU had seven hits off of the tandem of Trent Mulder and Brett Gehringer. Gehringer, who got the final two outs in the seventh inning, earned the victory, improving to 3-0.

Determined not to let the second game come down to such late-inning theatrics, the Eagles scored seven runs in the top of the first inning. AU pounded out 16 hits against a quartet of NU pitchers. Senior outfielder Brandon Cornell, senior catcher Josh Gaub, freshman third baseman Casey Jirsa and freshman outfielder Josh Davis all had circuit clouts. Cornell has a season-high nine blasts and Jirsa has cleared the fences six times.

Davidson ended the game 3-for-5 and junior outfielder Allen Ayers was 3-for-4 and scored four runs. Ayers also had a pair of stolen bases.

The win went to senior lefty Bryce Bednarczyk (4-1). He gave the Eagles five innings and allowed six runs, five earned, on 11 hits. Bednarczyk walked two and struck out four. Sophomore Jim Barry pitched the final two innings.

The Eagles and Timberwolves will play another two games on Saturday (Apr. 10).