Junior center fielder
Cam Miller didn't get the bunt down to move the runner over in the bottom of the ninth.
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So Miller went ahead and did the next best thing, ringing a game-winning RBI double to right-center field to give the No. 14 Ashland University baseball team a 4-3 win over Lake Erie College on Friday (March 22) at Tomassi Stadium and Donges Field at the Archer Ballpark Complex.
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The Eagles are 14-2 overall and 1-0 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference – still in the midst of their best overall start in 22 years (also 14-2 in 2002).
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"Those are the moments you dream of," Miller said. "3-2, bottom of the ninth, and to come through for the guys was awesome. I could tell in the off-season, everyone's bought in. The culture here is great."
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"All these guys played last year and got the year's experience," said Ashland head coach
John Schaly, "and they've worked hard to get better. He fouled a couple off against their normal closer, good pitcher, and obviously got the big hit."
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The Eagles were the beneficiary of a two-out error which plated a run in the bottom of the second, then they took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth when junior designated hitter
Ian Sanders lifted a sacrifice fly to right field.
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Lake Erie (10-10, 2-3) got on the board with a run in the top of the sixth, but Ashland got the run back in the bottom of the eighth on an error on a failed pickoff attempt. The Storm, however, down to their last out, scored twice to tie the game at 3 – only to set up Miller's heroics in the bottom of the ninth.
POST-GAME NUGGETS
- Junior left-handed pitcher Marshall Leishman turned in a quality start for AU on Friday, allowing five hits, one run and no walks and striking out eight in seven innings. Leishman lowered his 2024 season earned-run average to 2.35.
- After senior righty Zac Common struck out two in a scoreless eighth, senior righty Justin Dyksma (1-0) ended up with the pitching victory after Miller's game-winning hit.
- Miller and graduate shortstop Devin Hukill each had two of Ashland's eight hits.
UP NEXT
The second game of the series on Saturday (March 23) at 1 p.m.
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"We always talk about we want to win a series, and we take every game one at a time," Miller said. "Our goal is always the next game."
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