An eight-run bottom of the sixth inning propelled Ashland University's baseball team to a key 14-8 in-region win over No. 10-ranked Wayne State on Tuesday (April 18) at Tomassi Stadium and Donges Field at the Archer Ballpark Complex.
The Eagles are 26-11 overall, and 19-6 since returning from the annual Florida Spring Break trip, while the Warriors are 27-7.
Ashland wasted little time going on top, scoring three times in the bottom of the first inning thanks to three Warrior errors and a balk. Wayne State, however, scored five runs in the top of the second to take its first lead.
In the bottom of the second, redshirt freshman third baseman
Collin Overholt hit a solo home run to cut the deficit to 5-4, then an RBI single from sophomore catcher
Ben Peltz knotted the game at 5. The back-and-forth continued with the Warriors scoring twice in the third for a 7-5 advantage.
Fifth-year left fielder
Seth Schroeder's run-scoring single in the bottom of the third got AU back to within a run, and the game stayed at 7-6 until the sixth, when a single WSU run made it a two-run game again at 8-6.
Then, in the bottom of the sixth, redshirt freshman right fielder
Chris Franks launched a grand slam to put Ashland on top at 10-8. Overholt added his second solo homer, then sophomore first baseman
Sam Witt launched a three-run round-tripper for a 14-8 Eagle advantage following the eight-spot.
NOTABLES
- Witt was 4-for-5 with a homer, three runs scored and three RBIs, and Franks was 2-for-4 with a double, the slam, a run scored and four RBIs. Franks now has 31 RBIs in just 82 at-bats this season.
- Sophomore shortstop Jeremiah Cangelosi ended 3-for-5 with a run scored in AU's 17-hit attack.
- Sophomore left-handed pitcher Marshall Leishman (5-1) pitched six innings of quality relief for the win, striking out 12 and allowing seven hits, three runs and two walks.
- Ashland now has six consecutive errorless games, and has committed just two errors in the last 10 games.
- Tuesday's game featured a combined 22 runs, 31 hits, 11 pitchers, three errors, four balks, and 19 runners left on base.
QUOTABLES
- "Marshall had a great game, especially on a hitter's day," said Ashland head coach John Schaly. "Really threw the ball well, mixed it up, kept the ball down. Gave us a chance, then we got the big inning."
- "That's a big win. Big region win. We enjoy playing them. Good competition," Schaly said. "It's a nice win for us."
- On Overholt, Schaly said, "He's got that power, potential power. We swung it well."
- On Franks, Schaly said, "He's been hot ever since we put him in the lineup, playing great defense. He has a big-time arm."
UP NEXT
The Eagles are in second place in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference's North Division at 16-4 in the league, and they are slated to begin a four-game home series with first-place Northwood (27-12, 18-2) on Friday (April 21) at 3 p.m.
