Eagles Get Into the Swing of Things Against Urbana

Eagles Get Into the Swing of Things Against Urbana

            There was no jet lag or any other kind of fatigue in the bats of the AU softball team on Thursday (Mar. 15). In their first action since a week-long trip to Florida, the Eagles swept Urbana, 9-0 and 9-1 in six innings. AU has a seven-game winning streak and is 14-4.

            In the first game, the Eagles rapped out 13 hits.  Junior first baseman Franki Gironda (Akron, Ohio/Hoban), one of AU's hottest hitters in this young season, was 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and three RBI.  Junior catcher Tawna Garver (Mansfield, Ohio/Hillsdale) was 3-for-4 with a round-tripper and senior third baseman Alyssa Kelley (Mentor, Ohio) was 3-for-4 and scored a pair of runs.  Freshman outfielder Taylor Menhart (Twinsburg, Ohio) was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.

            AU starter Emlyn Knerem (Brunswick, Ohio), raised her record to 11-0 with a complete-game, two-hit shutout. Urbana didn't get a hit until the sixth inning.  Knerem walked two and struck out 14.

            In the nightcap, the Eagles struck for four runs in the third inning and the issue wasn't in double after that. The first three batters in the lineup – sophomore second baseman Cayla Seidler (Massillon, Ohio/Massillon Washington), freshman catcher Jerrica Young (Loudonville, Ohio) and Kelley – had two hits each.  Menhart was 2-for-3 with two triples. The rookie drove in two runs.  Seidler and Kelley ripped doubles.

            Freshman Amber McDermott (Creston, Ohio/Norwayne) gave the Eagles a quality start, going six innings and allowing a run on four hits. She walked one and struck out five.

            Urbana is 5-9.

            Ashland will play another non-conference twinbill at Notre Dame on Saturday (Mar. 17).

AU

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