Softball Splits With Parkside On The Road

Ashland University's softball team continues to win close games, splitting on Saturday (April 17) at Parkside thanks to a 4-3 win in Game 2.
 
The Eagles are 7-15 overall and 4-8 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference after the victory and an 8-0, five-inning loss in Saturday's opener. The Rangers are 11-19, 7-11.
 
Ashland got out to a quick start in Game 2, thanks to a two-run double from freshman third baseman Hailey Struckman. Parkside cut that early lead in half with a run in the bottom of the first, but the Eagles got that run back in the top of the fifth on an RBI single from junior first baseman Alexis Lavdis.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, the Rangers had runners on first and second, but sophomore pitcher Josie Duncan got the inning-ending strikeout to finish the threat. Ashland added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when sophomore designated player Kayla Ruperto launched her second home run of the spring.
 
Parkside kept coming, however, scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh. Ashland, however, cut a runner down going from second to third, then Duncan got her 10^th and final strikeout to seal the victory.
 
Duncan (3-3) went the distance on a four-hitter, allowing three runs and three walks and recording a career-high in single-game strikeouts. Ruperto and Lavdis each were 2-for-4 in the victory.
 
The opener started with the Rangers scoring a run in the bottom of the first, then Parkside followed that with five runs in the bottom of the second and one each in the bottom of the third and fourth.
 
Freshman pitcher Jillian Middleton (1-8) allowed two hits, five runs (two earned) and a walk and struck out one in 1 1/3 innings. Ruperto had the Eagles' lone hit, a double, and a walk in two plate appearances.
 
Ashland will stay on the road to play two more games on Sunday (April 18) at 1 p.m. against Davenport.