Softball Sweeps Panthers In First Games At Deb Miller Field

It was a day of firsts for Ashland University's softball team on Tuesday (March 21).
 
Not only did the Eagles play their first two games at the new Deb Miller Field at the Archer Ballpark Complex, but they won their first two games at the new Deb Miller Field at the Archer Ballpark Complex, 3-2 and 3-1, against Davenport.
 
Ashland has won three in a row and is 6-14 overall after playing its first games in 11 days, and the Panthers are 5-14 after their first action in 16 days.
 
Davenport got on the board first in Game 1, thanks to a two-out error in the top of the second inning. A two-out RBI double in the top of the fifth extended the Panthers' lead to 2-0.
 
Ashland got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, also with two outs, as sophomore designated player Cassidy Shaffer rapped an RBI single. Then, in the bottom of the sixth, freshman second baseman Danielle Robbins snuck a two-run single to center field to put the Eagles ahead for the first time at 3-2.
 
In Game 2, Ashland struck first on an RBI infield single from senior center fielder Lauren McMillin, a bloop RBI single from senior first baseman Cat Lohse and sophomore shortstop Maddy Burdette scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom of the second.
 
Davenport's home run to begin the top of the fifth inning cut AU's lead to 3-1, and was the first round-tripper at the new field. That lead was held up, however, by senior pitcher Josie Duncan (2-4), who authored a six-hitter, allowed one run and one walk and struck out four.
 
NOTABLES

• In Game 1, Robbins, senior left fielder Kaitlyn Carney and Shaffer each had two of AU's 10 hits, and Robbins drove in two. Shaffer (1-3) earned her first collegiate win with 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, striking out one and allowing one hit.

 
QUOTABLES

• "It feels really good," said Ashland head coach Emlyn Knerem. "I told the team this proves what we have, and the talent that we have and the potential that we have. So it was really cool to see that today.
• "We played some really good defense in the second game," Knerem said. "Our pitchers threw phenomenally. We managed to push runs across when we needed to."
• Said Robbins, "It was amazing. It's history. It felt good. We are beyond grateful for this field. We're thankful for all the people who donated money, and to be able to play on this field. We're so lucky. It's so nice."

 
UP NEXT
The Eagles will begin Great Midwest Athletic Conference play on Friday (March 24) at 3 p.m. at Northwood (14-9).