The Ashland University baseball team piled up 17 hits Wednesday (Mar. 7) and built up a 9-0 lead before holding off Wheeling Jesuit, 9-6 in Auburndale, Fla. The win was AU's fourth straight and gives the Eagles a 5-1 record.
Ashland took a 9-0 lead into the eighth inning. Freshman right-hander Zach Wolfe (Williamsport, Ohio/Westfall) silenced the West Virginia school over seven innings. Wolfe allowed six hits, walked two and struck out two. He departed with a shutout.
That's when the Eagles found some trouble. The first few pitchers head coach John Schaly called upon out of the bullpen struggled and Wheeling Jesuit got to within three runs of the Eagles. Finally, junior right-hander Zach Botjer (Mississagua, Ont./Genesee C.C.) came in and got the Eagles out of the eighth inning. Sophomore righty Vince Frate (North Royalton, Ohio) retired the side in order in the ninth for his first save of the season.
Up and down the order the Eagles were a potent bunch. Senior outfielder Zach Thompson (Marshalltown, Iowa/Cleveland State) was 2-for-5 and sophomore infielder Wade Kaido (Zanesville, Ohio) was 3-for-4 with a double. Sophomore third baseman Tyler Gray (Plain City, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) was 2-for-5 with a double, homer and three RBI. Freshman infielder Kyle Vozar (Hinckley, Ohio/Medina Highland) went 2-for-4 with a circuit blast and senior outfielder Ethan Houck (Fort Wayne, Ind./Glen Oaks C.C.) was 2-for-3 with a triple. Sophomore catcher Mickey Manser (Salem, Ohio/West Branch) was 2-for-2 with a double.
AU will play a doubleheader with Rockhurst on Thursday (Mar. 8). Rockhurst is in the GLVC, so these will be key regional games.
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