After the inclement April weather rollercoaster finally stopped for Ashland University's softball team in Xenia, Ohio, on Saturday (April 9), the Eagles' offense came to life in a big way.
In a doubleheader which originally was scheduled for Sunday (April 10) at Brookside Park, Ashland swept Lake Superior State, 15-0 in five innings and 14-7 in eight innings – putting up its two best single-game run totals of 2016 in the process.
The Eagles improve to 17-16 overall and 7-5 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. AU snapped a streak of three straight doubledip splits, and is 7-3 in its last 10 contests.
The Lakers fall to 4-24, 0-12.
Game 1 saw Ashland score the runs it needed for the run-rule-shortened victory in the first two innings – two in the first and 13 in the second. The 13-run second was highlighted by a leadoff home run by junior shortstop Alexis Van Horn, who also had an RBI single later in the frame.
Van Horn, senior first baseman Jen Moore and senior pitcher Sarah Alley each had two of AU's nine hits. Moore added a double and three RBIs, and Alley and Van Horn each drove in two runs.
Alley improved to 8-6 after a five-inning three-hit shutout in which she struck out six and walked one.
The Eagles scored runs in bunches in Game 2, as well – but nearly waited until it was too late. Lake Superior State scored three runs in the second and fourth in the fourth en route to a 7-5 lead going into the seventh inning.
In the top of the seventh, however, Ashland scored twice to tie the game and force extra innings. Sophomore third baseman Marissa Caraballo's two-run double knotted the game.
Then, in the top of the eighth, the Eagles hung a seven-spot on the Lakers. Alley's two-run single provided the game-winning runs, then Van Horn capped off the inning with a three-run homer.
Moore, Alley, senior catcher Bri Buckley and Caraballo each had three of Ashland's 19 hits, while Alley, junior second baseman Kalene Freshour, Caraballo and Van Horn each drove in three runs. Buckley had a double and a triple, and Caraballo hit two doubles.
Alley came in to throw 4 2/3 scoreless innings of relief to pick up her ninth win of the season. She allowed three hits and two walks and struck out four.
Ashland's rescheduled GLIAC doubleheader for Sunday vs. Northwood in Beavercreek, Ohio, has been postponed. The Eagles' next scheduled action is another conference twinbill on Tuesday (April 12) at Tiffin (19-10, 4-3) at 3:30 p.m. – rescheduled from April 3.
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