The Florida trip sweep is complete.
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Ashland University's baseball team went 5-0 during its annual Florida spring break trip, and will bring an overall six-game winning streak back to town, following a 9-4 win over Minnesota Duluth on Tuesday (March 10).
This marks the first time that a
John Schaly-led Ashland baseball team has won all of its games on the Florida trip. Schaly now has won 997 games as the Eagles' head coach.
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The Eagles (9-5) did what they have done a lot of late, score first and score early. In the top of the second inning, senior first baseman
Sam Witt hit an RBI single to put AU on top.
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Duluth (3-10) responded in the bottom of the second with a run of its own.
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In the top of the third, the Eagles came back with two a two-out RBI double from junior catcher
Nate King to take the lead again at 2-1. The back and forth went the Bulldogs' way again in the bottom of the third, as two runs put them back on top, 3-2.
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The scoring stopped until the top of the seventh, when graduate shortstop
Collin Overholt launched his first home run of the season, a two-run shot – putting Ashland ahead again.
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Two more two-run homers, from senior third baseman
Ryan Shimek and graduate center fielder
Chris Franks, and a steal of home by senior right fielder
Billy Howard, gave the Eagles five insurance runs in the ninth.
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Duluth added a run in the bottom of the ninth, but could get no closer.
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ANOTHER WINNER IN LONG RELIEF
- Sophomore right-handed pitcher Josh Stalnaker (2-1) earned the relief victory, striking out nine and allowing two hits, two runs and a walk over 5 2/3 innings.
- Of AU's 14 hits, King and Franks each had three, and Overholt and sophomore designated hitter Sean Krueckeberg added two each.
- Overholt, Shimek and Franks each drove in two runs.
COMING UP
Returning home for a four-game Great Midwest Athletic Conference set with Cedarville on Friday and Saturday (March 13-14) at Tomassi Stadium and Donges Field at the Archer Ballpark Complex.
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