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AU Baseball Drops
Fourth Straight, 7-1 at Marietta |
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The Ashland University baseball team’s offensive struggles continued Thursday night (Apr. 14) in a 7-1 loss at Marietta. Five Pioneer hurlers combined to scatter nine hits and hand the Eagles their fourth straight defeat. Marietta, ranked 11th in the latest NCAA Division III national poll, improves to 20-4-1. AU is now 21-11. Marietta wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. The first three Pioneer batters singled off of Ashland starter Ryan Petrich. Two Eagle errors later in the inning compounded the trouble and Marietta held a 3-0 lead after one inning. Ashland scored its lone run in the top of the second as an Allen Ayers single down the left field line plated Jim Barry. Marietta’s other big inning came in the bottom of the fourth. A two-run home run by leadoff batter Chris Sidick capped a three-run rally and gave the home team a 6-1 lead. The Pioneers tacked on an insurance run against Todd Martinelli in the seventh to wrap up the scoring. Marietta’s second pitcher of the evening, Mike DeMark, improved to 5-0 with the win. Petrich was credited with the loss, his first of the year in six decisions. He worked five innings and yielded six runs (four earned) on six hits. Offensively, AU centerfielder David Waters was 2-for-3. Barry and Chase Beatty were each 2-for-4. Ashland will return to action Saturday afternoon (Apr. 16) when Youngstown State (16-13) visits Donges Field. Game one of the doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m. |