Ashland University's baseball team got off to a strong start in its home Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference series with Grand Valley State on Saturday (April 2).
The Eagles, however, didn't get a chance to build off that start.
Ashland improved to 14-9 overall and 5-0 in the GLIAC after a 4-2 come-from-behind victory over the Lakers (12-9-1, 3-2) in what was supposed to be Game 1 of a doubleheader on Saturday. The second game, however, was cancelled due to snow/weather forecast.
"We got a couple big hits together. It was a good win," said Ashland head coach John Schaly.
Coach Schaly
The Eagles improved to 6-1 in their last seven games thanks to a three-run bottom of the fifth inning after trailing 2-1.
A GVSU error allowed both senior second baseman Mike Lewandowski and junior shortstop Brad Hartman to come around and score to give Ashland a 3-2 lead. Senior first baseman Mackenzie Hampshire added an insurance run with an RBI single.
Junior right-hander Brandyn Sittinger improved to 4-0 after allowing three hits, two runs and five walks and striking out five in 6 1/3 innings. Junior lefty Mike Gentile got the second out of the seventh inning, then senior righty Alex Smith got the last out of the game to set a new program record for career saves with 15.
"He's very even-keeled. He wants the ball in tough situations," Schaly said of Smith. "He's going to come at you. He's a competitor."
Junior third baseman Lance Myers was 3-for-4 and scored a run in AU's eight-hit attack, while sophomore left fielder J.P. Sorma hit his fourth home run of the campaign.
Following the game, the 2006 AU College World Series team was honored. That team was 47-17, and finished fifth in Division II both on the field and in the final poll – the program's best-ever finish.
The Eagles and Lakers will return to Donges Field for two more games on Sunday (April 3) at 1 p.m.
"You never know weather-wise around northern Ohio this time of year," Schaly said. "Getting three in will be good."
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