The Ashland University baseball team concluded a four-game road series against the Thomas More Saints on a high note.
On Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29, the Eagles played a total of three games, beating the Saints in two out of three of the outings. They began Saturday with a tough 10-run loss, but bounced back later that day off the back of starting pitcher Drew Becker. The team was then able to carry that momentum secured on Saturday into Sunday, downing the Saints convincingly, 10-3.
The Eagles finished the weekend scoring a total of 19 runs.
To start Saturday, the Saints' offense was thriving. They scored 15 runs on 14 hits, including a six-run second inning that gave them an early lead. From there forward, the Eagles were just trying to play catch-up, but Thomas More wouldn't slow down.
They would go on to score nine runs between the fifth and sixth innings combined, capping off the game with a 10-run victory.
Although the Eagles fell, there were a couple of good showings. First baseman Gage Weaver recorded two hits and three RBI, while catcher Nate King also tacked on two hits.
Heading into game two, the Eagles just needed to put that tough defeat behind them.
While the offense took a bit to get rolling, Becker was at the top of his game. He ended up going eight innings, striking out an incredible 14 batters while allowing just two hits and one earned run. He also didn't walk a batter.
Ashland's offense helped him out, scoring four runs on 12 hits and four walks drawn. The Eagles' runs were all scored late in the game, from the sixth inning onward.
Riding high off the performance from Becker, the Eagles went out and dominated the Saints on Sunday.
They were able to use a big third inning and late insurance to help secure a 10-3 victory to cap off the series strongly. After going down early, they tied the game up in the second inning, before a five-run inning pushed them ahead in the third.
In the eighth inning of action, the Eagles added four more runs, highlighted by a two-run double from Ryan Shimek and a two-run home run from the bat of Nate King. King also drew two walks on the outing, showcasing both poise and power at the plate.
The win was handed to Griffin Ailes, who struck out four batters and allowed two runs across six innings pitched. Ashland's Patrick Radigan was given a save following three innings pitched and just one run allowed.
The Eagles' two wins and one loss moved the team's record to 18-9 overall and 8-4 in conference play.
As Ashland looks ahead to the coming week of play, they're set to take on the Lake Erie College Storm from Tomassi Stadium and Donges Field at the Archer Ballpark Complex on the campus of Ashland University. The two sides will play a four-game series starting on Friday, April 3, that will conclude the following day on Saturday, April 4.
