In Ashland County, flea markets and sidewalks sales spring up on a weekly basis at this time of the year.
At Brookside Park on Wednesday (Apr. 10), the AU softball team proved to be as astute a bargain hunter as can be found in these parts.
The Eagles had just five hits against Walsh, but those five safeties went a long way in a 9-1 victory in the first game of a GLIAC twinbill. The second game was postponed in the top of the third inning with AU ahead, 9-1. Thunder, lightning and heavy rain forced the second game to be stopped.
Putting an end to the thunder the Eagles produced in the first game was not so easy for the Cavaliers (13-10/4-7 GLIAC). AU, which has won eight of its last 10 games, was clinging to a 3-1 lead before exploding for six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Eagles (17-13/11-4) had only two hits in that outburst, but they were big shots. Freshman designated player Jen Moore (Jeromesville, Ohio/Hillsdale) ripped her fourth homer of the season and it was a three-run blast. The rookie has a team-high 22 RBI.
Sophomore left fielder Carly West (Ashland, Ohio/Hillsdale) also had a two-run single in the fifth.
AU scored its first run in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by senior catcher Tawna Garver (Mansfield, Ohio/Hillsdale). In the third inning, junior second baseman Cayla Seidler (Massillon, Ohio/Massillon Washington) swatted her second homer of the season, a liner down the left field line.
That would turn out to be enough run support for sophomore Amber McDermott (Creston, Ohio/Norwayne), who allowed a run on six hits in five innings. McDermott is 5-3 and over the last two weeks, has provided the Eagles with a string of sterling starts.
Casi Rohr pitched the first four innings and took the loss. She is 7-4.
The Eagles got off to a great start in the second game, scoring five times on five hits in the first inning. Three more runs in the second inning gave the Eagles a huge cushion. However, when the weather took a turn for the worse, all of that was put on hold. A decision will be made later when to resume the game. It would be resumed in the top of the third inning with the Eagles ahead, 9-1.
AU will play at GLIAC doubleheader at Malone on Saturday (Apr. 13, 1 p.m.).
AU
SOFT/ALK
