Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 On Saturday, March 14, the Eagles played host to the Cedarville Yellow Jackets for the final two games of a four-game series. Ashland dropped the opening game of the day, 6-1, and came just short in the second game during extra innings, 5-4.
In the first game, the Eagles allowed six runs through the first two innings.
Following the quick start, though, Cedarville instantly cooled off, as those would be the only runs they scored the entire game. Ashland tried to get back into it, scoring a run in the sixth inning off a Nate King single into center field that brought Chris Franks running home, but that would be the only run scored.
Josh Stalnaker, who came in relief for the Eagles, looked incredibly sharp on the mound over the course of 5.2 innings. He allowed a measly six hits and two walks while striking out six.
The loss was handed to starter Griffin Ailes, while the win went to Yellow Jacket Brody Adams, who started the game and tossed four strikeouts across four innings.
The Eagles reset and retooled heading into the final game of the series with a win in mind.
They immediately put two runs on the board in the opening frame.
The Yellow Jackets responded with two runs in the top of the second, tying the game. Neither of those runs came off hits. The Eagles then made a change on the mound, bringing in Ben Sibert in hopes of slowing down the surging Cedarville offense.
He did just that, helping stabilize the game as the Eagles tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning off RBIs from Sean Krueckeberg and Max Albert.
Yet again, history repeated itself, with the Yellow Jackets rallying to tie the game in the sixth.
With the game on the line, Ashland's bullpen looked incredible. David Smith struck out five over the course of three innings, allowing just one hit. He was the only Eagles reliever who didn't give up a run.
Smith put the team in position to win it in the ninth, but after advancing a runner all the way to third base, Ashland couldn't get the job done, sending the game into extra innings.
The Eagles turned to Chase Carter in the 10th inning. Carter struck out the first batter he faced before allowing an unearned run to cross home plate, then sent down the next two hitters to end the inning.
Ashland just needed one run to tie it in the bottom half of the inning, trailing 5-4.
They managed to get two runners on base, but Cedarville's strong defense and reliable pitching closed them out to secure the win. Pitcher Jordan Greiger was credited with the victory after 1.2 innings of work, where he walked one and struck out another, while Carter, despite looking sharp, was unfortunately handed the loss.
Ashland dropped to 11-7 overall and 2-2 in conference play with both losses.
Up next, the Eagles will take on the Walsh Cavaliers on the road, with a four-game series beginning Friday, March 20. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m. EST.
