No. 15 AU Extends Win Streak To 17 Behind Dazzling Pitching

No. 15 AU Extends Win Streak To 17 Behind Dazzling Pitching

The pitching staff for Ashland University's baseball team was dealing again on Saturday (April 6), only allowing three runs in two games, helping the Eagles earn two more wins.

No. 15 Ashland (26-3 overall, 10-0 GLIAC) extended its program-record win streak to 17 with two more wins over Saginaw Valley State.

In Game 1 of the day against the Cardinals (12-12-1, 6-4-1 GLIAC), the AU pitching was dominant once again.

For the second straight game, the Eagles only allowed two hits. This time, senior Devin Peters did it by himself. Peters had a no-hitter through five, giving up his first hit in the sixth. He went the distance in the seven-inning contest, only allowing two hits and no walks and nine strikeouts. Peters advanced to 5-0 on the season with the win.

The Eagles opened the scoring in the game in the top of the sixth the break the scoreless stretch. Senior Matt Littrell homered to right center, scoring junior Carson Mittermaier and opening up a 2-0 lead late in Game 1.

In the bottom of the inning, Saginaw Valley got one back.

In the top of the 7th, AU got two more runs as insurance. Sophomore Dillan Smith reached on single to left field, and sophomore Austin Eifrid was hit by a pitch to get on base. A wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position with two outs. Senior Sam Hawley stepped in, and singled to center, scoring the runners.

With the lead stretched to 4-1, Peters gave up a solo shot to Joshua Riggs. That was all, however, for the Cardinals in the final frame, and Ashland clinched its 16th straight win.

Game two featured more of the same for Ashland on the mound.

Junior righty Chance Hitchcock (3-0) toed the rubber in Saturday's second installment. Hitchcock also pitched a complete game. He allowed seven hits and just two walks, and recorded 11 strikeouts.

The Eagles did not need much offense to win, but the offense they did get came predominately from the Cardinals' blunders defensively.

In the top of the third, Eifrid scored on a passed ball. The next inning, junior Jason Swope found his way to first on a fielding error, one of four in the game for Saginaw Valley, and that error eventually found junior Michael Rogers scoring another run for the Eagles to put them up 2-0.

The Cardinals got one back in the bottom of the fourth. Craig Wilson drove in Collin Winters on a shot to short.

Adding the final run of the game was Rogers in the top of the sixth, a solo homer to right field.

Camden Dice (0-4) remained winless on the season for the Cardinals after his Game 2 loss.

AU will go for the four-game sweep of Saginaw Valley on Sunday (April 7) at 1:05 p.m.

 

 

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