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Eagles, Lakers Open
Baseball Series by Dividing Twinbill |
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Mistakes along the lake were few on Saturday (March 25) when the baseball teams from Ashland and Mercyhurst opened Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. Hits were about as prevalent as March heat waves in Erie, PA, as well. The story of the day for both sides was pitching. AU (19-4/1-1) extended its winning streak to 11 games in the first game with a 2-1 triumph. That streak came to a close in the nightcap when the Lakers won, 3-1. Ashland managed five hits in the first game against starter and loser Brandon Mendola (2-1). Mendola did a masterful job of keeping the Eagles under wraps. The one mistake he made came in the second inning when AU catcher Eric Zattlin belted a two-run homer. That roundtripper was Zattlin’s first of the season. Two runs isn’t much to work with, but it held up thanks to the work of junior righty Josh Davidson. Davidson pitched his first complete game of the season, holding the home team to an unearned run on five hits. He walked three and struck out two. Davidson (7-1) was forced to wiggle out of several jams – the ‘Hurst stranded eight baserunners. Right fielder David Waters was the only AU player with more than one hit – he was 2-for-3. In the second game, MC’s Adam Nine went the distance, allowing a run on five hits. Like Davidson, Nine didn’t allow an earned run. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out four. The Lakers (12-7/1-1) scored single runs in each of the first three innings. Second baseman Dan Bertolini and first baseman Brian Zacour both went 2-for-3. For AU, third baseman Justin Randall was 2-for-3 with a double. Second baseman Justin Richards drove in the lone run for the Eagles. Senior Cody Castle started and lasted 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. Thom Abbott didn’t permit a hit in 2.2 innings of work out of the bullpen. Ashland and Mercyhurst will play another doubleheader on Sunday (March 26), beginning at noon. |