Baseball Falls Behind Early, Loses To Saints In Series Opener At Home

Two days after giving up eight runs in a row then rallying for 13 straight to beat Ohio Dominican in a non-conference home game, Ashland University's baseball team surrendered nine consecutive runs in the first two innings to Thomas More on Friday (March 21) en route to a 9-5 Great Midwest Athletic Conference loss at Tomassi Stadium and Donges Field at the Archer Ballpark Complex.
 
The Eagles' six-game win streak was snapped, and the loss left them at 12-7 overall and 4-1 in the league. The Saints are 6-12, 1-4.
 
After Ashland yielded seven runs in the top of the first inning and two more in the top of the second, the rally began in the bottom of the third – courtesy of a grand slam from junior shortstop Collin Overholt and an RBI triple by freshman first baseman Carter Weaver.
 
Thomas More, however, won the battle of the bullpens – despite six shutout innings from sophomore right-hander Carter McFarland and two more from another sophomore righty, Griffin Ailes. McFarland struck out five and allowed five hits and three walks, and Ailes whiffed two and allowed just a hit batter.
 
…AND THE REST OF THE STORY

• Weaver finished 2-for-3 with a double, triple and RBI.
• Senior lefty Brendan Beaver (0-4) gave up nine hits and nine runs (five earned) and struck out two in an inning-plus.

UP NEXT
The second and third games of the series at home at 1 p.m. on Saturday (March 22).