The Ashland University softball team's G-MAC Tournament run ended at Akron's Firestone Stadium. It wasn't because the Eagles ended up with a flat tire.
The Eagles, owners of a 32-17 record, lost Saturday (May 2) in the G-MAC Tournament championship game, 9-5. Ashland came into the season picked to finish sixth in the conference. The Eagles were the third seed in this tournament and ended up in the runnerup slot. The season may not be over as Ashland still has NCAA postseason hopes. AU was ranked in last week's Midwest Regional rankings and should be there again this week.
AU went 3-2 in G-MAC tournament play, knocking off Northwood, Ohio Dominican and Hillsdale. The two losses were to the red-hot Oilers (39-12), the fourth seed and owners of a deep and versatile lineup that is clicking on all cylinders right now. For the year, the Eagles and Oilers (39-12) have split four games.
In the title game, the Oilers put up two runs in each of the first three innings and added a three-spot in the fourth for a 9-0 lead. Ashland got a three-run homer from third baseman Amanda Kolar in the fifth inning to narrow the margin to 9-3. Shortstop Sophia Martin homered for the second straight game, a two-run shot in the fifth, to cut Findlay's advantage to 9-5. Martin's first homer in the tournament was a grand slam late Friday night against Hillsdale that propelled AU to a 6-5 win and a spot in the championship game.
Findlay starter and winner Alexys Antal upped her record to 19-3, allowing five runs on seven hits. Delaney Lis (10-7) took the loss, giving up seven runs, five earned, on eight hits. Lis lasted three innings.
Kolar was 3-for-4, the only AU player with more than one safety. Ashland had eight hits.
Right fielder Anna Jones, first baseman Joslynne Frazier and left fielder Aurora Lescody, had two hits each for the Oilers. Jones had a double and knocked in a pair of runs. Annika Bredel had a triple.
Ashland began the day in search of its first tournament championship since 2002. That title came in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The Eagles also won the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) tournament crown in 1990.
While the Eagles weren't able to add a tournament championship, they did enjoy a nice run in the event. They won a postseason game for the first time since 2017.
The G-MAC is the first conference in the region to finish its regular season and hold its conference tournament. The GLVC and GLIAC have their tournaments next weekend. The top eight teams in the Midwest Region advance to the eight-team regional tournament. Thanks to the G-MAC Tournament championship, Findlay earns an automatic bid to the NCAA postseason.
The NCAA Division II playoff field will be announced on Monday, May 11.
