Box Score LINK – ASHLAND UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL PAGE
Ashland University softball's first win of the 2017 season was a special one, as it was also the 900th of head coach Sheilah Gulas' career.
"As I look back at 900," Gulas said, "the thing that's so awesome is how many people have helped me get wins along the way."
The Eagles (1-2) defeated Lindenwood (3-4), 4-3, in 10 innings on Saturday (Feb. 25) morning at the Lewis University Flyers 2017 Dome Invitational in Rosemont, Ill. Along with the current members of the team, a group of alumni who played at Ashland under Gulas were in attendance to congratulate her with gifts after achieving her milestone.
According to Gulas, the alumni in attendance encompassed each of her 21 seasons guiding the Eagles.
"That's what it's all about," Gulas said. "It's about the players that played for me, the coaches I've coached with and the families and parents that let their daughters play for me. That's what 900 is to me."
Gulas' achievement came in grand fashion, as the Eagles came to bat in the bottom of the 10th down 3-2. Ultimately, freshman Dayna Denner's single to left field allowed senior Ally Farrah to touch home plate for the walk-off win.
"It was clutch," Gulas said. "We put Dayna in today because she had a good matchup with the pitcher, and it paid off."
Both teams only used one pitcher in the game. Sophomore Hannah Stroe earned the victory in the circle for Ashland, striking out four batters and surrendering just two earned runs.
"It was such a team win," Gulas said. "Hannah was out there pitching her heart out. She did an unbelievable job, and our defense kept us in the game."
The Eagles out-hit the Lions, 11-7, in the game. Ashland now has 34 hits in the first three games of the season, nine of which have come off of the bat of Farrah in the bottom half of the lineup. She went 3-for-4 in the win and is batting .750 thus far.
Denner (two), as well as sophomores Halle Dorko (two) and Kylie Asmus (two), also contributed multiple hits against Lindenwood.
UP NEXT: Ashland plays Illinois-Springfield at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 25).
AU
SB/KK
