AU Baseball Starts Home Series Vs. Oilers With 3-2 Win

On Friday (April 29) at Tomassi Stadium and Donges Field at the Archer Ballpark Complex, Ashland University's baseball team began a four-game Great Midwest Athletic Conference series against Findlay with a 3-2 victory.
 
The Eagles improve to 26-15 overall and 17-8 in the league, and the Oilers are 17-25, 12-11.
 
"Real good win. Well-played game by both teams," said Ashland head coach John Schaly. "Well-pitched, and we played good defense, and we strung some hits together in the one inning to get a three-spot."
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• The Oilers opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the fourth inning, but the Eagles' response came in the bottom of the fifth in the form of an RBI single from senior shortstop Austin Eifrid, then a two-run double from senior first baseman Tim Zeller.
• "He went the other way. It was a big double," Schaly said of Zeller. "Clutch hit on his part."
• That lead stood up thanks to the pitching of junior right-hander Josh Meyer and senior righties Joel Ciccarelli and Perry Bewley. Meyer (5-2) earned the win, allowing six hits, two runs (none earned) and two walks and striking out one in 6 1/3 innings. Ciccarelli went the next 1 2/3 hitless with a walk and four Ks, and Bewley, AU's all-time saves leader, got No. 6 of the season with a perfect ninth and a strikeout.
• "We've been playing not to our expectations, but we are turning it around now," Bewley said. "It feels good for me. I love going in there in close games. It brings the best out of me."
• "All three of those guys threw well," Schaly said. "They're throwing well. Joel's a good setup man for Perry, and Perry is one of the best in the country closing."

 
UP NEXT
The second and third games of the series on Saturday (April 30) at 1 p.m.