Softball Tops No. 7 Lakers In Opener, Loses Nightcap In Extras

Ashland University's softball team had to wait 10 days to play its next two games, its 2022 home opener at Brookside Park vs. No. 7-ranked Grand Valley State.
 
The wait was most definitely worth it, as the Eagles topped the Lakers in Game 1, 8-3, then took GVSU to extra innings in Game 2 before losing, 6-3.
 
"I think what we have not seen from our team yet is just how competitive they are," said Ashland head coach Emlyn Knerem. "I really can't ask for much more than what we had today."
 
Ashland is 6-7, and Grand Valley State is 15-2.
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• In Monday's opener, the Lakers scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning, but the Eagles quickly countered with a three-spot in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore catcher Jordyn Severns scored under the tag at home on a fielder's choice, then junior designated player Hailey Struckman drove in two with a seeing-eye single to right field.
• GVSU cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the third, then sophomore second baseman Hailey Krinn roped an opposite-field RBI double and freshman shortstop Maddy Burdette collected a run-scoring single in the bottom of the third for a 5-2 advantage.
• In the bottom of the fourth, Ashland added three more insurance runs on a Laker error and a two-run single by Struckman.
• Struckman was 2-for-3 with four RBIs, and junior outfielder Lauren McMillin was 2-for-4 and scored twice. Junior pitcher Josie Duncan evened her 2022 record at 5-5 after twirling a complete-game six-hitter, striking out three and walking one.
• "It feels amazing. We all just came out here wanting to have fun, and when we have fun, we win," Struckman said. "I'm very excited for the season. We are playing together, for Josie, for everyone else on the team."
• Said Duncan, "Everybody's here to win. The freshmen came in, and they're ready to play. We're ready to play."
• The nightcap saw GVSU score first again with a run in the top of the first, then make it a 2-0 lead with another run in the top of the fourth. The score stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth, when McMillin launched a two-run home run – her first of 2022 – to knot the game at 2.
• A two-out run in the top of the sixth put the Lakers back on top by a 3-2 count, but again, the Eagles had the answer in the form of an RBI groundout by Struckman in the bottom of the sixth.
• GVSU's three runs in the top of the eighth put it on top once again at 6-3, and that was the final margin of victory.
• McMillin was 3-for-4 with a triple, home run and two RBIs, and is hitting .500 this spring. Burdette was 2-for-3.
• Duncan (5-6) went the distance again, giving up 11 hits, six runs and three walks.
• "It's hard to make it through 15 innings like that strong, and they didn't make a huge adjustment against her," Knerem said.

 
UP NEXT
Ashland is scheduled to play host to Wayne State (7-9) in a doubledip on Thursday (March 24) at 3 p.m.
 
"It makes a difference when they are seeing live pitching regularly, when they are on the dirt regularly," Knerem said. "Obviously, we don't want to play so regularly that Jo is getting burnt out. Hopefully, the forecast can clear out a little bit for us, and we can stay on schedule as best as we can."