AU Softball Goes 2-2 on Easter Weekend
March 26, 2005

The Ashland University softball team went 2-2 over the Easter weekend. Because the GLIAC-GLVC Challenge was cancelled due to weather, the Eagles had to rearrange their schedule on the run. The new slate took the Eagles to Bellarmine and Southern Indiana and mixed in a game against Kentucky Wesleyan.

On Thursday (March 24) at Bellarmine, the Eagles divided a twinbill. In the opener, AU got the better of the Knights, 1-0. The nightcap went to the host team, 6-2.

In the lid-lifter, AU (13-7) scored the game’s lone run in the fourth inning. Catcher Nicole Placie led off with a single and pinch runner Danielle Rychener took over at first. Rychener advanced to second on a stolen base and got to third on a dropped third strike. She came on shortstop Jill Allerding’s fielder’s choice.

Jaime Williams handcuffed the Knights on four hits. She didn’t walk a batter and struck out nine. Both teams had four hits and neither club committed an error.

In the second game, Bellarmine scored three times in third inning and pushed across three more runs in the fourth. Sarah Holets (1-2) took the loss. She lasted four innings and allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits. She walked two and struck out three.

Bellarmine’s Ashley Eppich (2-7) allowed four hits in a route-going effort. She had three walks and seven strikeouts. The win puts Bellarmine’s season record at 10-14.

Friday (March 25), Ashland downed Kentucky Wesleyan, 7-2. The game was played at Southern Indiana. Allerding was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. She hurt the Panthers with a double and her first home run of the season. Sara Mathes and Ashley Mayle both went 2-for-3. Mathes and pitcher Jennifer Alderson each slugged a homer. Alderson went 3 2/3 innings and gave up a run on two hits. Holets went the last 3 1/3 and permitted a run on two hits.

AU took control of the game with a five-run third inning.

The Eagles had one more game on Friday and that resulted in a 3-2 setback against Southern Indiana. The Screaming Eagles handed Williams a rare loss – she allowed three runs, two earned, in seven frames. Williams is 9-2 on the campaign.

The game was tied, 2-2 heading to the sixth inning. Designated hitter Lindsey McNaughton singled to right field with one out and moved to second on a wild pitch. A single to left by Kristin Eickholt moved McNaughton to third and she came home on a muffed throw to the infield.

USI pitcher Missy Grover (7-3) limited AU to three hits. The win gives the Screaming Eagles a 10-8 record.