Peters Takes No-Hitter Into Seventh, Eagles Split With GVSU

Peters Takes No-Hitter Into Seventh, Eagles Split With GVSU

Junior right-hander Devin Peters took a no-hitter into the seventh inning as the Ashland University baseball team defeated host Grand Valley State, 6-2, on Thursday (April 12) afternoon in the opener of a doubleheader in Allendale, Mich. The win extended AU's winning streak to nine before the Lakers claimed an 8-2 win in the day's finale.

After walking the bases loaded with two outs in the first inning, Peters was simply dominant. He induced a fly out to escape the jam in the first and proceded to strike out the side in the second inning. He retired seven in a row in a stretch from the third to the fifth innings and pitched around a leadoff walk in the sixth. 

The Lakers (20-14, 8-6 GLIAC) finally got to Peters for two runs in the seventh, but the game was all but decided at that point.

Ashland (21-10, 9-5 GLIAC) got on the board in the first as sophomore Carson Mittermaier reached on an infield single and went to second when senior Connor Barleben drew a walk. Senior Greg Ludwig followed with a single to left to plate Mittermaier and give AU a 1-0 lead.

Freshman Austin Eifrid started the third with a double to left and Mittermaier reached on an error. Both moved up on an error before Ludwig delivered again – this time scoring two on a single to left-center.

Four straight batters reached in the fourth as AU scored three runs – one on a wild pitch, one on a single by junior Matt Littrell and the last on Mittermaier's triple to the gap.

Peters (4-4) gave up just two runs on three hits while striking out seven and walking four in earning the complete game victory. GVSU starter Ryan Arnold took the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on seven hits in six innings.

Eifrid, Mittermaier and Ludwig had six of Ashland's seven hits in the game to lead the offense.

The Eagles started Game 2 with the lead on Ludwig's sac fly in the first inning, but the Lakers tied the game in the bottom half by scoring on a wild pitch.

GVSU touched up Ashland starter Chance Hitchcock for four runs in the third inning to take a 5-1 lead.

Ashland managed just one more run on Littrell's RBI single in the sixth as the Eagles stranded 13 baserunners in the game.

Hitchcock (4-2) suffered the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. Senior Pat Carlozzi tossed three solid innings of relief, striking out five and giving up just one run.

Noah Lamboley (2-1) earned the win for GVSU while Alex Licata worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings for the save.

Ludwig was 3-for-3 in the game while Littrell and Mittermaier had two hits apiece. GVSU out-hit Ashland, 14-12, in the game.

The Eagles and Lakers will conclude their four-game series on Friday (April 13) with a doubleheader scheduled for 1 p.m., weather permitting.

AU

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