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In Ashland University head coach Sheilah Gulas' last home doubleheader on Friday (April 28), the Eagles lost Game 1, 3-2, and won Game 2, 3-2, vs. Ohio Dominican.
The games were played in front of a season-high home crowd of 312.
"It was special for so many alumni, alumni parents and former players to come back," Gulas said. "And to win it that way made it better. I'd rather an eight-run rule, but to win it that way and have the seniors get it done the way they did was exciting."
AU (28-21 overall, 13-9 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) was scoreless through the first five innings of the second game before senior Alexis Van Horn hit a two-run home run over the left-field fence in the sixth. The Eagles took a 2-1 lead on Van Horn's team-leading seventh home run of the season.
The Panthers (27-21, 14-8) responded in the bottom of the sixth with a run of their own, knotting the score at two runs apiece.
In the top of the seventh, senior Jenny Raguz supplied Ashland with a clutch hit on Senior Day. Her single drove in freshman Bree Gill, giving the Eagles a 3-2 lead that they wouldn't relinquish.
"The seniors came up with the perfect opportunities and got it done," Gulas said. "I'm so happy for them."
Sophomore Hannah Stroe earned her 10th victory in the circle, striking out three batters without walking any over seven frames.
"Hannah pitched too well to go out with a loss," Gulas said. "When our team came off the field before the top of the sixth inning, I said, 'We have got to start competing.' And then we had a different approach."
The Eagles never led in Game 1, as ODU had a 2-0 lead before AU plated its first run in the bottom of the fourth on a Cassie Haight bunt that allowed sophomore Kylie Asmus to score from third.
Freshman Dayna Denner hit her fourth home run of the season in the loss.
UP NEXT: The Eagles will head to Findlay, Ohio, for the GLIAC Tournament, set to take place May 5-7. "Right now," Gulas said, "it's all or nothing. We either win the GLIAC or we're going to be done. The pressure is on. We just have to play the best that we can. But we have to get out there and play aggressive, or our season is going to be shorter than we want it to be."
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