After a bit of weather-related maneuvering, Ashland University's baseball team played one nine-inning game at Donges Field on Sunday (April 3) against Grand Valley State, resulting in an 8-5 defeat.
The originally-scheduled four-game Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference set turned into a two-gamer following inclement weather on Saturday (April 2). The Eagles and Lakers, the preseason choices to win their respective divisions in the 2016 GLIAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll, ended up splitting the abbreviated series.
Ashland is 14-10 overall and 5-1 in the GLIAC, and leads the South Division at 4-0. GVSU is 13-9-1, 4-2, and is tied for first in the North at 3-1.
On Sunday, the Eagles scored twice in the bottom of the first inning to jump on top. Senior first baseman Mackenzie Hampshire started the AU scoring with an RBI double, then senior center fielder Nick Edwards followed with an RBI triple.
The score remained 2-0 through the first three innings, but the Lakers scored five times in the fourth and three times in the fifth.
Ashland began to cut the deficit with a two-spot in the sixth on junior catcher Adam Vasil's first home run of the season. The Eagles made it a three-run deficit in the eighth with an RBI double from junior third baseman Lance Myers – his third two-bagger of the game.
AU loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but a strikeout and a flyout ended the comeback attempt.
Myers' three doubles paced Ashland's 13-hit attack. Hampshire, Edwards and sophomore left fielder J.P. Sorma each had two hits, and Vasil drove in two runs.
The Eagles will hit the road for five games in the upcoming week – a single non-conference game on Wednesday (April 6) at West Liberty and a four-game GLIAC set on Saturday (April 9) and Sunday (April 10) at Tiffin.
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