Eagles Rally To Gain Split At Northwood

Eagles Rally To Gain Split At Northwood

            Freshman outfielder Giancarlo Saia (Mentor, Ohio/Lake Catholic) ripped a two-run, seventh-inning double Saturday (Mar. 24) to help the AU baseball team gain a split of a twinbill at Northwood. This was the opening day of GLIAC play for both the Eagles and the Timberwolves.

            AU (9-7/1-1 GLIAC) lost the first game Saturday, 4-2 and trailed, 1-0 entering the top of the seventh inning in the second game. Sophomore third baseman Tyler Gray (Plain City, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) got the rally started when he singled through the left side. Kyle Vozar (Hinckley, Ohio/Highland) used a sacrifice bunt to advance Gray to second base and outfielder Zach Thompson walked. That set the stage for Saia, whose two-bagger gave AU a 2-1 lead.

            The Eagles got the win despite managing just three hits. Jake Winicki, who went 6.1 innings and took the loss, allowed two runs on two hits. He walked three and did not strike out a batter.  Saia's double came off of relief pitcher Jordan Schwellenbach.

            Sophomore Brad Thomas (Orrville, Ohio) upped his record to 3-0 by going 6.1 innings. He allowed six hits and one run (the run was unearned). Thomas walked one and struck out four.  Zach Botjer (Deshler, Ohio/Sinclair C.C.) got the final two outs for his second save.

            In the first game, the Timberwolves (10-3/1-1) scored twice in each of the first two innings.  Ashland cut that lead in half by scoring twice in the top of the third inning.  The pitching dominated the game after that.  Northwood starter Jordan Snider went six innings and allowed two runs on four hits. Snider is 3-0.

            Schwellenbach pitched a scoreless seventh inning to gain the save, his second of the year.

            Ashland had five hits and no AU player had more than one safety. Vozar had a double for the Eagles.

            Senior Aaron Hilt (Richmond, Ohio/Richmond Edison) absorbed the loss. He pitched a complete game allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits.

            The Eagles and Timberwolves will play another doubleheader on Sunday (Mar. 25).

AU

BASE/ALK