Resilient Eagles Sweep SVSU Cardinals in GLIAC Baseball
April 14, 2006

Even on a holiday weekend, the Ashland University baseball team isn’t bothered by working overtime.

The Eagles had to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie Friday’s (April 14) first game against Saginaw Valley State at Donges Field. That sent the game to the eighth inning, where a run in the bottom of the inning produced a 7-6 Ashland win.

In the second game, the Eagles received a stellar mound performance from freshman Todd Schlenkerman to lead the way in a 6-1 win.

In the first game, SVSU (13-16/3-13 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) got a two-run homer from pinch hitter Tom Seehafer in the seventh inning to go in front, 6-4. The Eagles (30-8/11-3), who scored six runs in the seventh inning on Wednesday to beat Hillsdale, knotted the score with two runs in their half of the seventh. Shortstop Jim Barry singled to drive in Tyson Rowland for the first run. Left fielder Casey Jirsa’s sacrifice fly to center plated David Waters with the run that made the game even, 6-6.

Barry got the game-winning RBI in the eighth when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Bryan Thrasher began the frame with a walk from Scott Schlaff (5-2). Thrasher stole second and third and after two fly outs, Rowland walked. The Cardinals walked Waters intentionally and then SVSU coach Walt Head removed Schlaff in favor of Ben Esparza. Schlaff, one of the GLIAC’s top pitchers, gave an iron man effort, throwing 148 pitches.

Esparza’s appearance was brief, he hit Barry to force in the winning run. That made a winner out of Thom Abbott (2-1), who pitched the last 1 2/3 innings. He allowed a run on one hit. Josh Davidson started and pitched 5 2/3 innings before departing in favor of Ryan Douglas. Davidson allowed four runs on eight hits with five walks and four strikeouts. Douglas gave up a run on one hit in two-thirds of an inning.

Justin Randall was 3-for-3 with a triple and three RBI. Barry was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Justin Gouthro was 3-for-5 with a double and homer for SVSU. Both teams had 10 hits.

Schlenkerman pitched a gem in the second game in raising his record to 5-0. His assignment wasn’t easy, he had to sit through a 1:08 rain delay. That came before the start of the sixth inning. The rookie handled that pause in play without a problem. He pitched a complete game, limiting the Cardinals to a run on four hits. He walked four and struck out eight.

The Eagles gave Schlenkerman a nice cushion by scoring five times in the first inning. Davidson had a two-run double in the frame and Randall and catcher Eric Zattlin had run-scoring singles. First baseman Ron Oneson had a sacrifice fly in the inning.

Barry was 2-for-3 and Randall finished 2-for-4. The Eagles collected 10 hits, all against starter and loser Jon Herendeen (2-3), who lasted five innings.

The Eagles and Cardinals will play another doubleheader on Saturday (April 15), beginning at noon.