The No. 7-ranked and Great Midwest Athletic Conference-leading Ashland University baseball team split a doubleheader to begin a four-game set at Findlay on Saturday (April 27), winning 7-6 and losing 11-7.
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Starting the day with a 2½-game lead over Trevecca Nazarene, the Eagles (35-8 overall, 21-5 Great Midwest) now are three games over the second-place Trojans. The Oilers (22-18, 16-8) and Northwood each are four games behind AU.
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Neither team generated much offense in Game 1 until the top of the fifth inning, when junior designated hitter
Ian Sanders hit a two-run home run – his fourth of the season. Sophomore catcher
Collin Overholt then connected on a three-run blast in the top of the sixth for his third homer of 2024 – and a 5-0 AU advantage.
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Thanks to an RBI safety from sophomore second baseman
Gavin Dobbels in the top of the seventh, Ashland extended its lead to 6-0. Findlay got on the board with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh, but graduate shortstop
Devin Hukill got a run back with a steal of home in the top of the ninth.
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The Oilers rallied in the bottom of the ninth with a four-spot, but the Eagles held on for the victory.
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In Game 2, Findlay put up crooked numbers in the second (four), fourth (two) and sixth (three). Despite Ashland posting four runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 6, the Oilers' big innings were enough to pick up the split.
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POST-GAME NUGGETS
- The opener saw junior left-handed pitcher Marshall Leishman (8-0) go the first 8 1/3 innings, striking out five and giving up 12 hits, five runs and two walks. Graduate righty Cal Johnston got the last out via strikes for his second save of 2024.
- Sophomore right fielder Chris Franks went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Game 1.
- Game 2 had junior center Cam Miller go 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored, while Dobbels was 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored. Overholt ended 2-for-4 and scored twice.
- Sophomore lefty John Essig (1-3) yielded six hits and four runs (two earned) and struck out three in 2 2/3 frames.
UP NEXT
The final two games of the series on Sunday (April 28) at 1 p.m..
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