Cam Scott just didn't want to stop playing.
Neither did the rest of Ashland University's baseball team, as, after an 11-4 loss to Northwood to open the 2024 NCAA Division II Midwest split regional at Saginaw Valley State, the Eagles toppled the host Cardinals, 7-3, on Thursday (May 16) to stay alive in the tournament.
Ashland is 41-14, No. 11 SVSU is 39-16, and the Timberwolves are 33-21. The Eagle win over Saginaw was the program's first in the NCAA tournament since June 3, 2019 against NYIT at the D-II College World Series.
"This year and last year, when I pitch after a loss, I always feel a little angry," said Scott, a junior right-hander who improved to 8-0 after going 8 1/3 innings, striking out four and allowing eight hits, three runs (two earned) and one walk. "I know they're going to make plays behind me.
"I had to be ready. I was mentally ready. You've just got to go out and do your job."
"I tell our guys, no matter how many times you get knocked down, you've just got to keep getting back up," said Ashland head coach
John Schaly, now alone in 26
th place on the NCAA all-time all-levels baseball wins list with 1,313. "We've just got a lot of grit on this team.
"It was a great performance (by Scott)."
The Eagles' 41 victories this spring also are tied with the 2000 squad for the fifth-most in a campaign in program history.
A Timberwolves leadoff double in the top of the second inning did no damage, then the Eagles turned around in the bottom of the second and took the lead on a two-out RBI single from junior left fielder
Max Caron.
The score remained 1-0 until the top of the sixth, when Northwood put up six runs. Ashland got two of those back in the bottom of the seventh when sophomore catcher
Collin Overholt and senior pinch-hitter
Joey Bertani each drew a bases-loaded walk.
Northwood finished its scoring in the opening regional contest with five runs in the top of the ninth. The bottom of the ninth saw Bertani draw another RBI walk for the game's final margin.
The Eagles scored first against the Cardinals, plating three runs in the top of the second thanks to a two-run double by graduate shortstop
Devin Hukill and a sacrifice fly from junior center fielder
Cam Miller.
Saginaw Valley dented the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, scoring twice to cut the Cardinal deficit to a single run. Ashland responded in the top of the sixth, scoring on a Cardinal throwing error and a Miller RBI single to make it a 5-2 contest.
By the time senior designated hitter
Ian Sanders lifted a seventh-inning sac fly, the Eagles led 6-2. A run-scoring double down the left-field line by sophomore second baseman
Gavin Dobbels in the eighth made it a 7-2 contest.
SVSU scored once in the bottom of the ninth, but couldn't get any closer.
POST-GAME NUGGETS
- The first game saw junior third baseman Jeremiah Cangelosi go 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored – as Ashland collected a dozen hits.
- Junior left-handed pitcher Marshall Leishman (9-1), who on Wednesday (May 15) was named second-team All-Midwest Region by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), allowed six runs, seven hits and three walks and struck out nine in six innings.
- AU also had 12 hits against the Cardinals, with Hukill (2-for-5, double, stolen base, two RBIs, run scored), Sanders (2-for-4, double, RBI, run scored), and Caron (2-for-3, two runs scored) leading the way.
- "That was a big hit, put us up early in the game," Schaly said of Hukill. "He's a fifth-year senior."
- Senior righty Justin Dyksma earned his fourth save of the season by getting the game's last two outs.
UP NEXT
A day off, then a shot at the split regional title on Saturday (May 18). Opponent and start time will be dependent on what happens in the Northwood-Saginaw Valley State game on Friday (May 17).
