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Box Score 2 ASHLAND, Ohio – With Ashland and Grand Valley State finally able to play uninterrupted by rain or snow, the games flew by rather quickly. Unfortunately for the host Eagles, they wound up on the wrong end of the scoreboard.
The Eagles were swept by the fourth-ranked Lakers, 2-1 and 7-0, on Sunday (April 3) afternoon at chilly Donges Field. The teams also wrapped up Saturday's suspended game, which the Lakers won, 16-7.
Grand Valley State's game two starter Ryan Garman no-hit the Eagles in the final game of the day.
In game one, senior Ajay Meyer (Hamler, Ohio/Owens CC) threw his sixth complete game in as many innings. He was sharp throughout the game, but the AU offense couldn't muster enough to support him.
The Eagles manufactured a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Sophomore Austin Erb (Strasburg, Ohio/Hanover) singled to right to lead off the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch. Freshman Tyler Gray (Plain City, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) singled to put runners on the corners and junior Ethan Houck's (Fort Wayne, Ind./Glen Oaks CC) groundout scored Erb to give AU a 1-0 lead.
Meyer had allowed just three hits going into the sixth inning, but the first two batters of the frame changed the complexion of the game.
Garrett Yatch landed a double about two feet inside the foul line to start the inning and Paul Young pulled a Meyer offering over the fence in right field to give the Lakers the lead.
The Eagles put runners on the corners in the bottom of the sixth, but freshman Mickey Manser (Salem, Ohio/West Branch) struck out swinging after working the count to 3-0.
Meyer stranded a two-out double in the seventh to retire the Lakers. The Eagles were set down in order by Kyle Schepel to end the game.
Meyer (5-1) took his first loss of the season despite allowing just two runs on six hits over seven innings. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter. Schepel (4-0) remained perfect in four decisions, going in the distance in allowing just one run on five hits. Schepel walked two and struck out nine.
Erb was the only Eagle with two hits. Yatch and Young had two hits apiece for the Lakers, who had just two hits from the bottom seven spots in their order.
Game two belonged to Garman, who was lights-out in shutting down the AU lineup. He walked two and hit two batters in the performance, but the Eagles struggled to make solid contact off the right-hander. Garman struck out eight over his seven innings.
Junior right-hander Aaron Hilt (Richmond, Ohio/Edison) allowed a run in the first inning on a Steve Anderson RBI single. The Lakers scored four times in the third inning on just two hits and an error. The big play came off the bat of Cody Grice, who drove in a pair on a single to center that slipped under the glove of senior Ryan Avery (Berea, Ohio/Cuyahoga CC), allowing a third run to score. Grice went to third on the play and scored on a wild pitch to give GVSU a 5-0 lead.
Hilt (1-1) went four innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits. He walked three and struck out four. Junior Joe Malfara (Port Clinton, Ohio) came on in relief and allowed two runs (one earned) in the seventh inning.
Grice finished the game 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and three RBI. Yatch had two hits and a walk, scoring all three times he reached base. Anderson was 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.
The Eagles continue their six-game homestand on Wednesday (April 6) when they host GLIAC South foe Lake Erie. It will be the first time the teams will meet as members of the GLIAC. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 2 p.m.
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