These Walsh Cavaliers must be unbelievable bargain shoppers.
This wasn't a flea market the Cavaliers went to on Wednesday (Mar. 21) at Ashland University's Donges Field, it was a college baseball game. But the Cavaliers (9-10) did some two-for-one shopping and that made a huge difference in a 5-3 win over the Eagles.
Over the last five innings Walsh turned four double plays. Those twin killings - a.ka. two-for-one-deals - snuffed out any hope the Eagles (8-6) had of coming from behind in this non-conference matchup.
AU was in front, 1-0 after two innings and 3-2 after three frames. The Cavaliers took the lead for good in the fourth inning when they got to sophomore left-hander Cole Hudson (Dresden, Ohio/Zanesville) for three runs. Walsh had two doubles in the frame and the last of those, a shot to left field by left fielder Tim Stinson, drove in a pair of runs. Hudson (1-1) allowed four hits in the frame.
The sophomore was one of five pitchers the Eagles employed. The idea in the game was to get some work for pitchers who would be needed this coming weekend when the Eagles open conference play at Northwood.
Junior lefty Shayne Herold (LeRoy, N.Y./Genesee C.C.) started and worked two scoreless frames. After Hudson pitched two innings, freshman righty Zach Wolfe (Williamsport, Ohio/Westfall) delivered three scoreless innings. He was followed to the mound by senior right-hander Aaron Hilt (Richmond, Ohio/Edison) and junior right-hander Zach Botjer (Deshler, Ohio/Sinclair C.C.).
Walsh did not score after that three-run fifth. The Cavaliers had 13 hits and stranded 13 runners.
Junior first baseman Austin Erb (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) and junior catcher John Broll (Mississagua, Ont./Genesee C.C.) were both 2-for-4. Erb had a two-run single in the third inning.
Senior Billy Gura (3-2), pitching four scoreless innings of relief, earned the win. He was touched for three hits. Junior right-hander Zach Speer pitched a perfect ninth inning to get his second save of the season. The Eagles had nine hits against a quartet of Walsh pitchers.
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