LINK – ASHLAND UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL PAGE
Ashland University's softball team was four outs away from a sweep of its two games on Thursday (March 7) in Florida, as the Eagles routed Gannon 8-0 in six innings and lost late to Minnesota State, 6-5.
Thursday's opener against a Golden Knights squad which recently was in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 saw Ashland (7-5) break the scoreless tie with four runs in the bottom of the third inning, three in the fifth and one in the sixth to end the game early.
Senior third baseman Paige Summers was 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored; senior first baseman Kylie Asmus was 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI; and sophomore left fielder Emma Lawson was 3-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored.
Improving to 3-3 on the young season, senior pitcher Hannah Stroe twirled a six-inning complete-game three-hit shutout. Stroe struck out nine and walked one.
The Mavericks, who defeated then-No. 1-ranked Saint Anselm less than a week ago, were down 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth to the Eagles before scoring single runs in both of the sixth and seventh innings to rally for the win.
Junior designated player Dayna Denner was 3-for-3 with two RBIs, and moved her season hitting stats to a .548 batting average with eight RBIs in the first 12 games of her comeback season. Both Asmus and sophomore pitcher Laney Jones each had two hits, as Ashland had double-digit hits (12) for the fourth time so far in 2019.
Jones (2-2) went the distance in the pitcher's circle, allowing 14 hits, six runs and two walks and striking out five in 6 1/3 innings.
Ashland will continue Florida play on Friday (March 8) at 9 a.m. vs. Hillsdale and 11:15 a.m. vs. Assumption.
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