The upcoming schedule for the four-game baseball series between Ashland University and Grand Valley State has been adjusted due to incoming rain this week.
The teams will now play two doubleheaders – both beginning at 1:30 p.m. – on Thursday (April 18) and Friday (April 19). The first game on each day will be seven innings with the second scheduled for nine innings.
Fans are encouraged to stay up-to-date with game times on GoAshlandEagles.com and @goashlandeagles on Twitter as the schedule may continue to change as the weather develops.
Ashland was scheduled to celebrate a reunion of its 1999 NCAA World Series team on Saturday, but that event has been canceled. The Eagles' Easter Egg hunt and Youth Day also scheduled for Saturday were canceled. The Eagles have moved their Senior Day festivities to Friday between games of the doubleheader.
The Eagles (28-7, 10-4 GLIAC), ranked No. 21 in the NCBWA poll, come into the series off a comeback 8-7 win over Ohio Dominican on Tuesday. Ashland was swept in three games by Wayne State last week, but still lead the Warriors by a half-game atop the GLIAC standings.
The Eagles enter the week ranked third in the GLIAC in hitting (.310) and second in runs scored (275). They are also second in the league in ERA (4.18) and first in strikeouts per nine innings (10.3). Three of the league's top five strikeout pitchers – senior Devin Peters, junior Chance Hitchcock and sophomore Perry Bewley – reside on the Ashland staff, while senior closer Chris Slavik leads the league in wins (nine) and has three saves.
The Lakers (13-19-1, 6-9-1 GLIAC) are fighting to qualify for the GLIAC Tournament, but have won five straight, including a four-game home sweep of Parkside last week.
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