Softball Earns First Conference Sweep Of 2024, Takes Two From KWC At Home

Ashland University's softball team used many contributions from its younger players to earn a Great Midwest Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep on Saturday (March 16) afternoon, winning 5-4 in eight innings and 5-3 against Kentucky Wesleyan at Deb Miller Field at the Archer Ballpark Complex.
 
The wins move the Eagles to 8-13 overall and 2-2 in the Great Midwest, while the Panthers are 9-13, 0-2.
 
"Still not as solid as we would like, but we found a way to win," said Ashland head coach Emlyn Knerem. "The second game, it was nice to see us score early. It was nice to bounce back after yesterday (two losses at home vs. Trevecca Nazarene).
 
"We're seeing some really good things, but we're still seeing some things we need to get better at."
 
After the Panthers scored twice in the top of the second inning of Game 1, junior right fielder Laney Eller came through with an RBI single in the bottom of the second to cut the deficit in half. The Eagles tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore center fielder Ashley Veldheer lifted a sacrifice fly to left.
 
Kentucky Wesleyan scored twice with two outs in the top of the seventh, but in the bottom of the seventh, with two outs, freshman third baseman Sophia Martin's two-run double re-tied the game at 4.
 
Ashland earned the opening-game win in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice fly from freshman catcher Delaney Keith.
 
In Game 2, the Eagles took the lead with two runs in the second on a sac fly from junior shortstop Maddy Burdette and a run-scoring triple by Veldheer, then moved to a 4-0 advantage after three when Burdette and Veldheer both walked with the bases loaded.
 
Kentucky Wesleyan scored twice in the top off the fourth and once in the top of the fifth, but the Eagles got one back in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI double from junior first baseman Lily Rockwell.
 
POST-GAME NUGGETS

• Of AU's nine hits in the opener, two each came from Rockwell, Martin and Eller. Junior pitcher Bryn Grabowski (2-4) pitched two innings in relief for the win, allowing two hits, two runs and a walk and striking out two.
• Game 2 saw junior designated player/pitcher Cassidy Shaffer go 3-for-4 with two runs scored at the plate, and earn the save with two scoreless innings. Freshman pitcher Madison Milligan (2-2) went the first five innings, yielding four hits, three runs (two earned) and a walk and whiffing three.
• "It's been a fairly seamless transition for them (the freshman class). They've stepped up big in a lot of good situations for us."

 
UP NEXT
A week until the next Great Midwest home doubleheader on March 23 at 1 p.m. vs. Cedarville.