Box Score When the Ashland University softball team boarded vans and headed to Findlay for the GLIAC Tournament on Thursday they rejoiced that they would be making a short trip.
There's no happiness now because that short trip ended with a short stay at the league tournament.
Here's the long and short of it. The Eagles, the second seed in the tourney, went 1-2 on Friday (Apr. 27). After beating Hillsdale in their tourney opener, AU lost to Wayne State, 6-5 and then to Northwood, 4-3. That loss expelled the Eagles (40-15) from the tournament.
Ashland entered this weekend ranked second in the region. The NCAA Division II playoffs are still in AU's future. But where the Eagles will play is now up in the air. Had the Eagles had a good showing in Findlay, they could have hosted in the first round of the postseason. That opportunity is now in jeopardy.
During the regular season, AU divided a doubleheader with the Timberwolves (20-27). In this game, the 'Wolves jumped up to a 3-0 lead after three innings and led, 4-2 after six innings. Ashland scored once in the bottom of the seventh on a wild pitch. Shortstop Bri Woody (Cleveland, Ohio/Magnificat) then walked and reached second via a stolen base. Outfielder Carly West (Ashland, Ohio/Hillsdale) put down a bunt to advance Woody to third base.
Woody never moved from that station. Maddison Sebald, pitching out of the bullpen, struck out second baseman Cayla Seidler (Massillon, Ohio/Massillon Washington) and retired designated player Jerrica Young (Loudonville, Ohio) on a ground ball to shortstop. With that Sebald picked up her fifth save of the season.
Sebald and NU starter and winner Emily Somerville (4-8) limited the Eagles to four hits. Three of those were doubles, one apiece by Seidler, Alyssa Kelley (Mentor, Ohio) and Tawna Garver (Mansfield, Ohio/Hillsdale).
Emlyn Knerem (Brunswick, Ohio) started and went six innings for the Eagles. She allowed four runs – three earned – on six hits. She walked one and whiffed 11. Knerem is 27-5.
Rachel Hammer went 3-for-4 with a double for the 'Wolves. Stacey Klonowski had a home run.
The NCAA Division II playoff field will be revealed on Monday morning (Apr. 30).
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