AU Baseball Splits on Opening Day of Baseball Season
February 25, 2006

The Ashland University baseball team got its season started Saturday (Feb. 25) by dividing a doubleheader with Bellarmine. The two teams met on the Knights’ home field in Louisville, KY.

The home team used a five-run seventh inning to turn back the Eagles in the opener, 8-6. Junior righty Josh Davidson was tagged with the loss. He lasted 6.1 innings and allowed seven runs – all earned – on 12 hits. Davidson walked three and struck out six. Sophomore righthander Thom Abbott allowed one run and one hit over the last 1.2 innings.

Bellarmine used a quartet of pitchers. The victory went to the second pitcher in that group, Derek Mattingly. He allowed one run in two inning of work.

Cameron Howell went 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBI to pace the Knights. Center fielder Ryan Kuhlman was 3-for-3 with two RBI. The Knights had 13 hits.

Left fielder Casey Jirsa was 3-for-4 for the Eagles. Right fielder Jeff Yates was 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI. AU had 10 hits.

The Eagles pounded out 19 hits in the second game on the way to a 17-9 triumph. First baseman Ron Oneson went 4-for-5 with five RBI. The junior had a double and a homer. Sophomore backstop Chase Beatty finished 4-for-4, scored three runs and drove in two. Beatty had two doubles. Right fielder Bryan Thrasher produced a 1-for-4 day with four RBI and belted his first roundtripper of the season.

AU was in front, 7-2 after three innings and 13-5 after four frames.

Senior righthander Cody Castle, pitched the first 4.1 innings. He was touched for nine hits and eight runs. Castle walked four and struck out six. He missed all of last season after arm surgery.

Castle gave way on the mound to Todd Schlenkerman, who gave up one run in 4.2 innings. Schlenkerman walked two, whiffed three and was touched for six hits. He received credit for the win.

Todd Vaughn (0-1) took the loss. He lasted 2.2 innings and allowed seven runs, six earned, on seven hits. Brian Clark and Garret Kizinkiewicz blasted homers for the Knights. Brian Scott was 3-for-4 and Adam Chester drove in three runs.

The two teams will conclude the weekend series with a single game on Sunday (Feb. 26).