Beginning a three-game series with Charleston on Friday (Feb. 27) which was scheduled for Tomassi Stadium and Donges Field at the Archer Ballpark Complex, then Charleston, then back home, Ashland University's baseball team topped Charleston 5-3, to improve to 3-4 on the young 2026 season.
It was the earliest home opener in Ashland baseball history.
The Eagles didn't take long to jump on top to start the series, as senior designated hitter
Sam Witt's RBI ground out gave AU a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
After the Golden Eagles (0-10) knotted the game at 1 in the top of the third, Ashland returned serve in the bottom of the third and then some, scoring three times. RBIs were collected by graduate right fielder
Chris Franks (triple), senior left fielder
Billy Howard (single), and junior catcher
Nate King (sacrifice fly).
Charleston scored once in the fourth to cut its deficit to 4-2, but once again, Ashland had the answer – this time in the fifth in the form of a sacrifice fly from senior third baseman
Ryan Shimek.
The Golden Eagles wouldn't go away quietly, and scored another run in the seventh – but couldn't get any closer.
KRUECKEBERG, HOWARD TAKE CARE OF THE HITTING
- Both sophomore center fielder Sean Krueckeberg and Howard collected three hits on Friday – each of their first three-hit games of the season.
- Freshman right-handed pitcher Brody Saunders (1-0) earned his first collegiate win with two innings of two-hit, two-strikeout relief.
- Earning his first save as an Eagle was sophomore right-hander Ben Zink, who got Charleston out 1-2-3 in the ninth.
COMING UP
A doubleheader with Charleston on Saturday (Feb. 28) at noon and 3 p.m. to end the series.
