LINK – ASHLAND UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL PAGE
Thursday's (April 12) home doubleheader at Brookside Park saw Ashland University's softball team lose 3-1 and 7-0 decisions to Davenport, in the first meetings between the two programs in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.
"I think we were a little unfocused today," said Ashland head coach Emlyn Knerem. "We didn't make adjustments. I've told our team all season, there has not been a team that has taken the field against us that I have thought has had that much more talent them we do. We beat ourselves. That's what we did today.
"It's a lack of focus. We had 14 innings to make adjustments, and we didn't hit. We just didn't hit."
The Eagles are 13-13 overall and 3-5 in the GLIAC, while the Panthers are 25-14, 10-8.
In the top of the first inning of Game 1, Davenport struck first on an RBI triple by Selene Pauley and a two-run home run by Alexa Flores – before the first out was recorded.
Ashland got on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning when junior designated player Katie Manahan rapped an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-1. That initial three-run first inning, however, was more than enough for Davenport pitcher Mallory Teunissen, who authored a complete-game six-hitter with eight strikeouts.
Junior first baseman Kylie Asmus was 2-for-3, and, for the second home Game 1 in a row, freshman pitcher Laney Jones came in and stifled an opposing offense. Jones allowed two hits, no runs and two walks and struck out four in 2 1/3 innings.
"Laney threw well," Knerem said. "She did a good job of finishing that game for us, and getting big outs."
Davenport took the early lead again in the second game. In the top of the third, Flores drove in two runs on a double, Madison Jewell added a sacrifice fly and Alexis Koza collected an RBI single for a 4-0 advantage. The Panthers' lead moved to 7-0 in the top of the fourth after a three-run homer from Flores.
Panthers hurler Ellie Muilenburg allowed three hits, no runs and no walks and struck out five over six innings to earn the victory. Asmus was 2-for-3 at the plate for Ashland, and in the last four games, is 9-for-15.
UP NEXT: Weather permitting, a doubleheader at Wayne State on Saturday (April 14) and a home twinbill vs. Tiffin on Sunday (April 15).
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