Ashland University's softball team split a doubleheader for the third time in a row, winning 3-1 and losing 10-4 at Hillsdale on Tuesday (April 5).
The Eagles are 15-16 overall and 5-5 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while the Chargers are 12-6, 7-3.
Game 1 saw Ashland break the scoreless tie in the top of the third inning on an RBI double by junior center fielder Ally Farrah. The Eagles added two runs in the sixth thanks to a Charger error and a run-scoring single by senior catcher Bri Buckley.
Farrah was 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored in the victory. Senior pitcher Sarah Alley moved to 7-5 after authoring a complete-game five-hitter, allowing a run and no walks while striking out seven.
It was Alley's third consecutive victory.
Game 2 was a different story, as Hillsdale scored in all seven innings, including two runs in the top of the fourth and three in the sixth.
Ashland's runs were bookended – two in the first (a two-run single by Alley) and two in the seventh (a two-run double by senior first baseman Jen Moore).
The Eagles rapped 11 hits in the nightcap, paced by Moore's 3-for-4, two-RBI effort. Farrah was 2-for-4 and scored a run, and junior second baseman Kalene Freshour was 2-for-3.
Alley took the loss, allowing five hits, three runs (one earned) and a walk and striking out one in three innings, and was followed by freshman Hannah Stroe (four hits, five runs, and a strikeout in 2 1/3 innings) and senior Brittany Flanigan (four hits, two runs and two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings).
Three AU errors led to four unearned runs.
The Eagles will begin a scheduled stretch of six doubleheaders in eight days on Saturday (April 9) at noon against Northwood at home. It will be Youth Day at Brookside Park.
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