The Ashland University baseball team held early 1-0 leads in both games of a GLIAC doubleheader on Saturday (March 24) afternoon at Donges Field, but reigning GLIAC champion Northwood came back to win both games, 4-1 and 6-1.
In Game 1, junior right-hander Chris Slavik tossed five no-hit innings and took a 1-0 lead into the sixth. He gave up a single to Colin McClelland to start the inning before turning the ball over to junior righty Devin Peters.
The Timberwolves (15-7, 2-1 GLIAC) loaded the bases with two outs, but Peters struck out Noah Ingram to end the inning and keep Ashland's 1-0 lead.
The Eagles (9-7, 1-2 GLIAC) earned their lead in the third inning as junior Sam Hawley drew a one-out walk and scored on a hit to left field by sophomore Vince Vanata, who got caught in a lengthy rundown that allowed Hawley to score.
Leading 1-0, the Eagles surrendered four runs in the top of the seventh with three of those runs scoring with two outs.
Northwood ace Tyler Jandron (4-1) – the reigning GLIAC Pitcher of the Year – gave up just one run on four hits in a complete game. He struck out seven and walked two.
Slavik did not factor in the decision, giving up just one hit, but walking seven and striking out four in five-plus innings. Peters suffered the loss in relief.
Senior Connor Barleben had two of Ashland's four hits with junior Matt Littrell and Vanata picking up the others.
The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of Game 2 as senior Greg Ludwig and sophomore Carson Mittermaier singled to put runners on the corners. With two down, both runners took off and the throw by catcher Javier Martinez was off line, allowing Mittermaier to get to second and Ludwig to score.
Freshman right-hander Josh Stover was solid in his start for the Eagles and did not allow a ball to reach the outfield until McClelland doubled to open the fourth. McClelland eventually scored on an infield single by Travis Janes to tie the game at 1.
Northwood loaded the bases in the sixth and got a sac fly by Michael Karam to take a 2-1 lead before junior Ryan Curtis stranded three Timberwolves runners to end the threat.
Ashland put two runners on in the bottom of the sixth, but Northwood relief ace Lennon Gwizdala got a strikeout to end the inning.
Northwood broke the game open with four runs in the seventh to make the final margin.
Stover (1-2) took the loss, giving up two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked five and struck out three. Ian Dimitrie (6-0) did not allow an earned run in 5 2/3 innings of work. He walked one and struck out seven.
Ludwig had two of AU's four hits while Mittermaier and freshman Austin Eifrid had the others.
The Eagles and Timberwolves will wrap up their four-game set on Sunday (March 25) with a single, nine-inning game at Donges Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
AU
BASE/BB