In a Great Midwest Athletic Conference doubleheader on Wednesday (April 3), played at Tomassi Stadium and Donges Field at the Archer Ballpark Complex, the No. 9-ranked Ashland University baseball team won 17-6 and 14-2 over Ohio Dominican.
The twinbill, originally scheduled for Columbus, moves the Eagles to 22-3 overall and 9-1 in the conference. Ashland is on an eight-game winning streak, continues to lead the league, and is tied for its best 25-game start since 2019 – when it last went to the NCAA Division II College World Series.
Ashland now has scored double-digit runs in 12 of 25 games so far in 2024.
With two outs in the top of the first inning of the first game (ODU was the home team in both games), Ashland jumped on top with six runs thanks to an RBI double from junior designated hitter
Ian Sanders, an RBI infield single by sophomore right fielder
Chris Franks, a run-scoring single from junior left fielder
Max Caron, and a three-run home run from junior first baseman
Cam Scott.
In the top of the second, the Eagles added four more runs for a 10-0 lead. Sanders drove in two more with a double, another run scored on an ODU error, then Caron added an RBI single.
The Panthers (14-12, 5-5) scored three times in the bottom of the second, then another in the fourth, to cut the deficit to 10-4. Sophomore catcher
Collin Overholt's sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth made it an 11-4 contest, but ODU came back with a single run in the bottom of the fifth to trail 11-5.
Then, in the top of the seventh, Ashland put up a six-spot for a 17-5 advantage – highlighted by a grand slam from junior third baseman
Jeremiah Cangelosi.
Game 2 saw zeroes until the top of the third, when junior center fielder
Cam Miller launched a two-run home run and Cangelosi stole home. Ashland added six more runs in the top of the sixth – the big hit being a two-run single by sophomore second baseman
Gavin Dobbels.
After the Panthers scored once in the bottom of the sixth, AU got five runs in the top of the seventh on a Miller sacrifice fly, a two-run Cangelosi double, a Franks run-scoring single, and a pinch-RBI single by redshirt freshman
Kaiden Mastri.
POST-GAME NUGGETS
- In Game 1, Ashland rapped 20 hits, led by Scott's 4-for-5 with a home run, a stolen base, four RBIs and three runs scored. Cangelosi was 3-for-4 with a homer, four RBIs and three runs scored, and Sanders and Caron each drove in three runs.
- Graduate right-handed pitcher Cal Johnston (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings of relief, striking out one and allowing one hit, for the win.
- The nightcap saw the Eagles collect 16 more hits, led by Cangelosi's 3-for-5 with a double, a steal, three runs scored and three RBIs. Miller also drove in three runs.
- During his current six-game hitting streak, Cangelosi has gone 17-for-24 (.708) with 14 runs scored, four doubles, a home run and 13 RBIs.
- Franks is on a seven-game hit streak, and during that, is 15-for-26 (.577) with eight doubles, two triples and 10 RBIs.
- Junior lefty Marshall Leishman (5-0) went the first three innings, allowing no runs and two hits and whiffing five.
UP NEXT
On the road for a four-game Great Midwest set at Northwood (13-13, 8-4) on Friday-Sunday (April 5-7).
