Box Score The Ashland University softball team dropped a 6-5 decision to Wayne State Friday (Apr. 27) afternoon in the second round of the GLIAC Tournament at Findlay. The loss put the Eagles into an elimination game against Northwood at 6:45 p.m., Friday.
The Eagles (40-14), the second seed in the tournament, trailed, 6-1 entering the bottom of the seventh inning. Ashland scored four times in the frame and had a runner on second when WSU relief pitcher Sam Cain got catcher Tawna Garver (Mansfield, Ohio/Hillsdale) to pop out to second base for the final out of the game.
The Warriors (32-20) have been troublesome for the Eagles all year. During the regular season, WSU won three of four games against Ashland. All of those games were played in Detroit.
The Warriors got to AU starter and loser Emlyn Knerem (Brunswick, Ohio) for six runs on 11 hits. This is the third time this season WSU has defeated Knerem, who is 27-4.
WSU grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Alison Allen. In the bottom of the inning, the Eagles tied the game when third baseman Alyssa Kelley (Mentor, Ohio) singled up the middle to plate second baseman Cayla Seidler (Massillon, Ohio/Massillon Washington), who started the inning with a double.
The Warriors scored three times in the top of third inning. Allen had an RBI single and Rebecca Ryan doubled to drive home another run. WSU got another run-scoring double from Stephanie Foreman.
Two more runs in the top of the seventh increased the Wayne State lead to 6-1 and freshman pitcher Briana Lee looked to be cruising along without a problem. Then Kourtney Yarnall (Canton, Ohio/Perry) and Bri Woody (Cleveland, Ohio/Magnificat) opened the inning with singles. After an out on an infield fly, Seidler singled to load the bases.
Designated player Jerrica Young (Loudonville, Ohio) singled up the middle to drive in two runs. With two outs, center fielder Taylor Menhart (Twinsburg, Ohio) singled to bring home Young with the run that made the score 6-5. WSU finally got out of the inning when Cain retired Garver.
Lee got the win, improving to 9-6. Cain got her third save of the season.
Kelley went 3-for-4 with her second triple of the year and Seidler was 2-for-4.
Allen was 4-for-4 and Ryan and Nikki Fulton were 2-for-4 for Wayne State.
AU
SOFT/ALK
