SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In 2019, Ashland University's baseball team knocked out Illinois Springfield at home in an NCAA Division II super regional tournament.
In 2022, the Prairie Stars topped the Eagles to begin the D-II split regional at Wayne State.
On Friday (May 19), AU and UIS faced off in the D-II postseason for the third time in five seasons, in an elimination game on Day 2 of the Midwest split regional on the Prairie Stars' home field – with Springfield prevailing, 10-2.
Ashland's season ends at 33-21, and UIS's continues at 36-14.
The Eagles left the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, but Springfield cashed in during the top of the second with a pair of bases-loaded walks. The Prairie Stars added to their lead in the third with an RBI single, and by the time UIS picked up three runs in the fourth on two run-scoring singles and a sacrifice fly, Ashland trailed 6-0 through 3½ frames.
Ashland got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore center fielder
Cam Miller collected an RBI single, extending Miller's hit streak to seven games, but UIS got the run right back in the fifth on a solo home run. The Eagles' second run came thanks to an RBI single from freshman designated hitter
Gavin Dobbels in the seventh.
A two-run UIS home run and an RBI double in the ninth inning provided the final margin of victory.
NOTABLES
- Dobbels, in just his second collegiate start, went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Sophomore first baseman Sam Witt and redshirt freshman third baseman Collin Overholt each went 2-for-4.
- Senior right-hander Josh Meyer (3-5) allowed three hits, three runs and five walks and struck out one in 2 2/3 innings.
