Eagles Explode For 16 Runs In Opener, Split With Rangers

Sunday's (May 2) home doubleheader for Ashland University's softball team was all too familiar for head coach Emlyn Knerem.
 
For the fourth time since April 18, the Eagles won the first game of a twinbill, but lost the chance for a sweep. On Sunday, AU topped Parkside 16-12 in Game 1, but lost late in the nightcap, 3-2.
 
"What a day," Knerem said. "We have to play solid defense, and we talked about that at the beginning of the day. That's kind of what got us in the second game tonight. It happens, it's part of the game. We also had chances to score more runs, and we didn't take advantage of that, either.
 
"Happy to pull that split out. It was a big split for us."
 
The Eagles are 13-23 overall and 10-16 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and the Rangers are 17-27, 13-19.
 
The Eagles jumped ahead in Game 1, scoring in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI double by sophomore third baseman Hailey Struckman. Parkside countered with a run of its own in the top of the second, but Ashland kept the volleying going in the bottom of the second thanks to a two-run double from senior shortstop Abigail Butler.
 
In the bottom of the third, junior first baseman Alexis Lavdis rapped an RBI double, then senior right fielder Alli Hylton followed with a successful suicide squeeze bunt to extend the AU advantage to 5-1.
 
Parkside took the lead with a seven-spot in the top of the fourth…and that's right where the Eagles wanted them.
 
Sophomore pitcher Kayla Ruperto launched her fourth home run of the season over the green men's fence to make it an 8-6 game in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore left fielder Kaitlyn Carney followed with a two-run single to tie the game, Lavdis gave AU back the lead with a two-run safety of her own, and freshman catcher Jordyn Severns finished the six-run fourth with an RBI single to center field.
 
The Eagles scored twice more in the bottom of the fifth for a 13-8 advantage. A run scored on a throwing error, then freshman designated player Jillian Middleton's RBI single gave AU a five-run cushion.
 
Parkside came back with four runs in the top of the sixth to cut the Eagle lead to 13-12, but Ashland continued its offensive production in the bottom of the frame with three runs. Two of those came in on Ranger errors, and Severns added an RBI single.
 
Of AU's 17 hits, Lavdis had four (4-for-4, two doubles, three RBIs, three runs scored), Ruperto and Lawson each had three, and Severns was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Ruperto (5-5) allowed three hits, four runs (three earned) and one walk over 3 1/3 innings of relief.
 
Ashland's 16 runs are the program's most in a game since posting 19 at Grand Valley State on April 16, 2014.
 
"We don't want to peak in March. We want to peak right now, as we're going into the tournament," Knerem said. "Can we play our best softball in the next two weeks, and can we continue to put things together, play solid defense, and get some good pitching outings, and put the ball in play and score some runs."
 
Game 2 started off slower offensively, but the Eagles jumped ahead again with two runs in the bottom of the second on a single from Severns. Parkside scored its first run of the nightcap in the top of the fourth, then tied the game in the top of the sixth on a two-out unearned tally.
 
The Rangers scored their third consecutive run of the game in the top of the seventh, giving Parkside the split.
 
Sophomore pitcher Josie Duncan (4-8) was the tough-luck loser, authoring a five-hitter, allowing three runs (two earned) and three walks, and striking out six.
 
"She pitched a great game, and moved the ball well and kept them off-balance," said Knerem. "Unfortunately, it stinks as a pitcher, because you get the L when you've pitched a great game."
 
Severns was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
 
Ashland will play three more home doubleheaders next week, beginning on Thursday (May 6) at 2 p.m. vs. Davenport (20-21, 16-13).