|
Eagles Strike Early,
Knock Out Rockhurst, 12-4 |
|
That sound that reverberated around the Grand Valley State baseball field on Saturday (May 20) at 1:30 p.m? Was it the crack of a starter’s pistol or the sound of baseball meeting bat? The answer in this multiple choice exam is, “Both of the Above.” The Ashland University Eagles struck for four runs in the bottom of the first inning against Rockhurst and were off to the races after that. The early uprising carried the Eagles to a 12-4 win in the NCAA Division II North Central Regional Tournament at Grand Valley State in Allendale, MI. The loss sends sixth-seeded Rockhurst (36-22) home to Missouri and puts Ashland (44-15) into Sunday’s championship round. The Eagles, the tourney’s fourth seed, have to win two games to take the regional championship and advance to Montgomery, AL, for the NCAA Championships. At noon on Sunday, the Eagles will square off against fifth-seeded SIU-Edwardsville. The winner of that game will play top-seeded Grand Valley State at 3 p.m. All three survivors have one loss. The Lakers stayed alive in the tournament on Saturday with an 8-7 win over Quincy and a 3-1 verdict against SIU-Edwardsville. Saturday, the Eagles had a loud hello for Rockhurst starter Ryan Morgan (5-2). Left fielder David Waters drew a leadoff walk and one out later, came home to score on shortstop Justin Randall’s ringing double to left-center field. First baseman Casey Jirsa singled to bring home Randall, who had advanced to third on a passed ball. After a walk to third baseman John Hosgood, designated hitter Justin Richards singled to plate Jirsa. Hosgood went to third on the play and moments later, scored on catcher Eric Zattlin’s sacrifice fly to short left field. That sprint made all the difference in the world in this game. It deflated Rockhurst and made the Great Lakes Valley Conference team play from behind all afternoon. The salvo was a booster shot to AU’s confidence. It was the second consecutive game that the Eagles opened up with multiple runs in the first inning. Against Grand Valley on Friday, AU got to the Lakers for three first-inning runs. “It was tough last week, we were inside hitting (because of rain),” offered Jirsa, speaking of AU’s practice sessions in Conard Fieldhouse. “It’s hard to see the ball in there. Then you get outside and the ball kind of looks like a beach ball.” AU ended up assaulting five Rockhurst pitchers for 13 hits. In addition to that big first inning, the Eagles scored six times in the seventh. Before that explosion, Rockhurst had crept back to within 6-4. The seventh inning consisted of five hits, including a two-run single by Randall and doubles by Hosgood and Richards. “That 11-day layoff we had, it affected our hitting,” said AU head coach John Schaly, referring to the time off the Eagles had because the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament was rained out. “Our hitters are getting their timing back. We’re hitting like we’re capable of hitting.” Waters, right fielder Bryan Thrasher, Randall, Richards and center field Tyson Rowland all collected two hits. Randall drove home three runs and Jirsa and Hosgood had two RBI apiece. Up and down the lineup, the Eagles got quality at bats. At least one AU player believes that’s been the case throughout the tournament, even in the first-day loss to Quincy. “The first game, we just hit balls right at people,” said Waters. “Yesterday and today we found holes. You just have to keep hitting the ball hard.” Rockhurst didn’t do that very often against AU starter and winner Jim Barry. But, the GLVC entrant did keep pecking away at Barry and that resulted in him throwing 139 pitches in eight innings. Barry (9-3) gave up four runs on 12 hits. He walked one and whiffed seven. He didn’t allow the leadoff man to reach base until the seventh inning. “Our bench keeps reminding us, the first out is the most important out,” said Jirsa. “You have to get the first out in every inning. Our pitchers have done a good job pounding the strike zone in all three games.” “He threw strikes,” added Schaly. “He was still throwing hard at the end of the eighth inning. He kept up his velocity and he threw strikes. He went right at people.” For Rockhurst, Zach Troilo and Jared Pitts both went 3-for-5. Third baseman Jordan Myers had a two-run homer. When Barry left, the Eagles turned to Jesse Michel, who pitched a scoreless ninth. Ashland’s task on Sunday isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible either. All season, the Eagles have been adept at coming from behind. This scenario is no different. “You just keep at it, stay at it,” said Waters. “That’s all you can do with your back to the wall.” |