Eagles, Knights Divide Saturday Baseball Doubleheader
April 22, 2006

Baseball, as the Cleveland Indians publicity department likes to say, has no script. Nevertheless, after what happened to the Ashland University baseball team on Saturday (April 22) in Erie, PA, the Eagles might be thinking that Dean Koontz put together the screenplay, if not the lineup, for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference twinbill against Gannon.

In the first game, AU went eight innings to shade the Golden Knights, 3-1. The second game saw Gannon (12-28/2-16 GLIAC) upset the nationally-ranked Eagles, 4-1 behind an inspired pitching performance from Bob Ohmer.

AU’s initial run in the first game was a solo homer by John Hosgood. That circuit clout came in the second inning and AU (34-10/15-5) held that 1-0 advantage until Gannon knotted the score with a run in the sixth.

The teams remained deadlocked until the top of the eighth inning when a two-run single by shortstop Jim Barry gave AU a 3-1 lead. Righthander Josh Davidson (11-3) retired the Knights without a mark in the bottom of the inning to wrap up the win.

Davidson got the decision with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. During that stint, he allowed one hit and struck out two. Starter Todd Schlenkerman gave the Eagles 6 2/3 strong innings, allowing a run on six hits. The freshman walked three and whiffed six.

Ricky Hulsinger (1-6) was tagged with the loss. He pitched a complete game.

The Golden Knights hit the Eagles hard early in the second game, getting to starter and loser Thom Abbott (3-2) for four runs in the first inning. Ashland’s lone run came in the fourth when first baseman Ron Oneson doubled and came home on a single by Justin Richards.

Abbott lasted 3 2/3 innings and was charged with four runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out two. He was relieved by Richards, who completely stifled the Knights. Richards pitched the final 2 1/3 innings and didn’t allow a run or a hit. He struck out two.

Ashland loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth inning, but Ohmer started to wiggle out of the jam by getting a 5-2-3 double play. He was lifted at that point in favor of Josh Leslie, who got a strikeout to end the inning. Leslie didn’t allow a run in the seventh and picked up his first save of the season. Ohmer, in 5 2/3 innings, allowed a run on six hits. He walked two and struck out two.

Richards was 2-for-3 in the second game and Barry was 2-for-4.

The two teams will play another doubleheader Sunday (April 23) at Gannon.