SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In just the second meeting between the two programs, Ashland University's baseball team lost 5-2 to Maryville on Thursday (May 18) to open the Midwest split regional tournament at Illinois Springfield.
The Eagles are 33-20, and the Saints are 35-18.
Maryville got on the board first, thanks to a two-run single in the bottom of the first inning. A sacrifice fly in the second extended the Saints' lead to 3-0.
After that, Ashland sophomore left-hander
Brendan Beaver shut down Maryville to the tune of 12 consecutive batters retired.
Ashland dented the scoreboard in the sixth, as sophomore center fielder
Cam Miller, who earlier extended his hitting streak to six games, recorded an RBI groundout. Fifth-year left fielder
Seth Schroeder added an RBI single, and the Eagles were down 3-2 after 5½ innings.
The Saints, however, countered with a two-out run-scoring safety in the bottom of the sixth to take back a two-run lead at 4-2. Then, in the eighth, an RBI single made Maryville's lead three runs once again at 5-2.
NOTABLES
- Beaver (7-2) went seven innings, allowing 10 hits, four runs and no walks and striking out five.
- Junior second baseman Devin Hukill (2-for-3, double, run scored) had two of AU's four hits.
- The only other baseball meeting between Ashland and Maryville was a 15-6 Eagle victory in Florida in 2012.
BEAVER, SCHROEDER LAUDED BY NCBWA
As announced prior to Thursday's game, two Eagles landed on the 2023 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) All-Midwest Region teams.
Beaver is a first-team starting pitcher, and Schroeder is an honorable mention outfielder.
UP NEXT
An elimination game on Friday (May 19) at noon Eastern/11 a.m. Central against the home-standing Prairie Stars (35-14).
