The toughest week of the season has come and gone for Skipper John Schaly and Co, as they faced the nationally ranked Wayne State Warriors in Ashland as well as facing the Top of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in the Northwood Timberwolves.

They finished with a record of 3-2 over the week, winning against the out-o-conference foe and splitting with the Timberwolves. 

It was feast or famine for the Eagles as they scored one run combined in the two defeats, and 25 runs combined in the victories. 

The first game of the week saw the Wayne State Warriors travel to Donges field after facing them in Detroit just one week prior. The game last week saw the Eagles lose in extra innings, however, this game was a much different tale.

The offenses on both sides exploded, with 22 runs total being scored in the nine innings, including four home runs for the Eagles, with 2 solo shots from Collin Overholt, A three-run homer from Sam Witt, and a grand slam from Chris Franks, who has gone from bouncing in and out of the lineup to being integral for the Eagles at the plate.

 The pitching saw John Essig Start the game off but was pulled after giving up five runs in the second inning. It wasn’t until the third inning when things steadied for the Eagles, as Marshall Leishman came into the game and got into a rhythm quickly, going for six innings and striking out twelve. Final score Ashland 14, Wayne State 8.

The GMAC Series handed the Eagles two losses on Sunday, including just their second shutout defeat all season. This was the first time the Eagles had not won a conference Series all season, as they split the four games with the Timberwolves. Ace Brendan Beaver took the mound, who was riding on a 20.2-inning scoreless streak, and saw runs come in the third, fifth, and seventh innings. The offense was almost non-existent, reaching base only five times in the game. Final score Ashland 0, Northwood 9.

The second game of the doubleheader on Sunday was not much better, seeing them be shut out again through most of the game, Jeremiah Cangelosi was the saving grace for the Eagles, who hit a home run in the bottom of the seventh to save the Eagles from being shut out twice. Senior Josh Meyer took the rubber for the Eagles, throwing six innings and giving up five runs during the game. Final score Ashland 1, Northwood 7.

The Eagles turned things around quickly, however, as the second doubleheader of the series was a completely different story. The First game on Monday saw the Eagles flipping the script on the Timberwolves, shutting them out in the first game. Cam Scott threw seven innings of shutout baseball, giving the complete game the Eagles needed on the mound to give the offense the confidence it needed to score some runs. Which came early for the Eagles, scoring 5 of their six runs in the first two innings, including a pair of RBI doubles in the first from Sam Witt and Ben Peltz to get things started for the Eagles. Final score Ashland 6, Northwood 0. 

The Fourth and final game brought out late-game heroics to propel the Eagles to victory. The Eagles had to score runs in quite unorthodox ways to get the victory. With RBIs coming from a Walk, a Fielder’s Choice, a two-run home run from Colin Overholt, and a walk-off wild pitch to secure the Eagles the victory. On the Rubber, Schaly, and Co. went to the bullpen after just two innings from Opener Justin Dyksma, who only gave up three hits through the two innings. But Marshal Leishman came in for the Eagles again to pitch the bulk of the game, going 4.2 innings, giving up only two runs on five hits. 

The toughest part of the regular season is over, and the battle-tested Eagles now look to take on Slippery Rock at home, who they previously played earlier in the season and lost 9-4.

They will then head to Painesville Ohio to take on the Lake Erie College Storm in their penultimate GMAC season series.