Ashland University’s baseball team had a hard time getting anything going offensively versus Saginaw Valley State (8-9) on Sunday afternoon at Donges Field. The Eagles dropped the rubber match of a three-game series, 2-1. 

Saginaw’s Dylin Eschenburg reached base in the top of the first after being hit by a pitch from Ashland’s freshman starting pitcher Chris Slavik. Chad Carson then doubled to right center, advancing Eschenburg to third base. Eschenburg scored from third on a Brendan Harrison groundout to second.

The Eagles (8-8) left two runners on base in the bottom of the frame, which was a theme during the afternoon for Ashland. Ashland left ten on base for the game.

Slavik (1-1) had his stuff working during the third to fifth innings, retiring nine of the ten batters that he faced. For the game, he pitched six innings, allowed four hits and two runs, struck out five and walked three.

In the top of the sixth, Carson led off the inning with a single to center field. Harrison then put down a sacrifice bunt, moving Carson to second. Carson moved up to third on a wild pitch by Slavik. Garrett Soule then singled to right field, scoring Carson from third.

The Eagles were finally able to get something going offensively in the bottom of the eighth when designated hitter Greg Ludwig hit a home run down the right field line off Saginaw reliever Bailey Magsig, bringing the Eagles to within one run of the Cardinals.

Ludwig went 4-4 during the game, providing a big spark for an Eagles’ offense that only had nine hits as a team.

Saginaw reliever Andrew Tidwell then came into the game with two outs in the inning and recorded the final out to get the Cardinals out of trouble. Tidwell went on to close out the ninth, earning the four out save.

“Not very good. We need to get better,” said manager John Schaly when asked to summarize the three-game weekend series versus the Cardinals.

Next for the Eagles is a home game versus Cedarville University (3-9) on Tuesday, March 22. The Yellow Jackets have lost their last six games. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.