LINK – ASHLAND UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL PAGE
BEREA, Ohio – The nine seniors on Ashland University's softball team went out as regular-season winners on Saturday (April 27) at Baldwin Wallace University, earning a 7-3 victory in Game 2 of its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader vs. Purdue Northwest.
The Pride won Game 1 on Saturday, 5-0, leaving the Eagles with a record of 33-21 overall and 18-14 in the GLIAC through the regular season. PNW is 23-21, 14-16.
Ashland will be the No. 3 seed for the 2019 GLIAC Tournament, May 3-5 at Sports Force Parks in Sandusky, Ohio. The Eagles are 8-3 in their last 11 games heading into the conference tourney.
"It's good to end on a high note like that," said Ashland head coach Emlyn Knerem, "to have some good mojo going into next week. I think we absolutely had chances all week to perform well, and we stepped up to the plate, and hopefully, we take that into the GLIAC Tournament."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
- The Pride struck first, scoring twice before recording an out to begin Game 1. The top of the Purdue Northwest order did the same thing in the top of the third, then added a third run on a squeeze bunt to extend the lead to the final score.
- Ashland jumped on top in the second game, as senior third baseman Paige Summers came home on a Pride throwing error in the bottom of the second. Purdue Northwest, however, tied the score at 1 on a solo home run from Heather O'Kelly in the top of the third.
- The Eagles exploded in the bottom of the third, plating six runs on an RBI fielder's choice from sophomore shortstop Abigail Butler, a grand slam off the bat of Summers and an RBI triple from senior first baseman Kylie Asmus. For Summers, it was her sixth home run of the campaign.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- In the opener, Asmus and junior second baseman Camille Pollutro each had two hits.
- Sophomore pitcher Laney Jones (15-10) allowed seven hits, five runs and three walks and struck out seven in six innings in Game 1.
- Saturday's nightcap saw Summers go 2-for-2 with a triple, homer, two runs and four RBIs; Asmus go 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, and junior designated player Dayna Denner finish 3-for-3 with a run scored.
"It was awesome. We all just decided to go have fun, we're going to get this game for the seniors and for the team," Summers said. "It was just a big game, a big win for us.
"I think we're hot at the right time. Everything's coming together perfectly."
- Senior pitcher Hannah Stroe (16-11) earned the Game 2 victory, allowing six hits, three runs and three walks in going the distance. She is 5-1 in her last six decisions.
- Ashland's 54 games this season is the program's most since 2012 (59).
- In addition to Summers, Asmus and Stroe, the nine Eagle seniors include Halle Dorko, Erika Farst, Katie Manahan, Katie Mitchell, Abbie Sgro and Kayla Troyer.
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