For the second consecutive day, Ashland University's baseball team lost Game 1 and won Game 2 against Wayne State at Donges Field.
One of the biggest differences on Saturday (April 3), however, was Ashland University senior third baseman
Garett Robberts accomplishing a rare baseball feat. Robberts hit for the cycle in the Eagles' 19-6 nightcap victory, following AU's 14-9 loss in Saturday's opener.
Robberts' 4-for-5 game with a single, double, triple, home run, four RBIs and two runs scored paced an Eagle offense which collected 15 hits in Game 2. Ashland (7-8 overall, 2-2 GLIAC) put up crooked numbers in the second (four), fourth (four), fifth (two), seventh (five) and eighth (two) innings.
"We're starting to into a groove now. Bats are starting to come around," Robberts said. "Still need to work on a couple of things and keep getting better. Got a test coming up against Davenport."
"Offensively, we had a good weekend," said Ashland head coach
John Schaly. "We swung the bats well. We've just got to keep improving on the mound and defensively. You always want to win the series, but both days we bounced back and got the nine-inning game, so that was encouraging.
"I think we're starting to hit the way we're capable. He (Robberts) had a great day. It was nice to see. He's a hard worker, and he's a great hitter."
Sophomore second baseman
Seth Schroeder got the start in Game 2, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, three runs scored and two RBIs. Following his fourth start of the season, Schroeder upped his season batting average to .350.
"We came through in that second game today," Schroeder said. "Second game yesterday, we jumped on them early. Just get on them and stay on them and keep extending that lead.
"Trying to keep it simple – see the ball, hit the ball, hit it where it's pitched, do whatever I can to help the team win."
Senior first baseman
Carson Mittermaier was 2-for-4, junior center fielder
Alex Whipple had four RBIs, and junior left fielder
Logan Moss added two RBIs.
Freshman
Jake Depperschmidt (2-0) was Ashland's best hurler in the nightcap, posting 1 2/3 innings of hitless relief. Depperschmidt struck out three and didn't walk a batter.
Ashland got off to a strong offensive start in Game 1 on Saturday, plating three unearned runs in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly from junior designated hitter
Mike Flemming, and RBI singles by junior catcher
Logan Stoldt and senior right fielder
Michael Rogers.
Wayne State (9-6, 2-2) countered in the top of the second with five runs, but the Eagles came back with a single run in the bottom of the frame on a sac fly from Whipple.
Thanks to an RBI double from junior shortstop
Austin Eifrid and a three-run home run from Whipple, the Eagles regained the lead, 8-5, after four innings. The Warriors scored four times in the top of the fifth to regain the advantage at 9-8, then Flemming scored on a balk in the bottom of the fifth for a 9-all scoreboard.
Wayne State, however, scored five times in the top of the ninth to earn the victory.
Whipple drove in four runs in the opener as well, Flemming was 3-for-3, Rogers was 3-for-4, and Moss and Eifrid each were 2-for-4.
Junior
Jacob Harsany (1-1) took the loss on the mound, giving up seven hits, nine runs (six earned) and a walk, and striking out five, in 4 2/3 frames.
Ashland is slated to travel to Davenport for a four-game set on April 9-11.
AU
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