When the AU Softball team takes the field or comes up to the plate, they have one thing on their mind: to be better than their opponent in all aspects.

Most recently, that’s what this team has done so far in their season. The team is 15-1 overall and 2-0 in the GLIAC. Those two wins came over the weekend in Ashland in a double-header against Ohio Dominican, the first ended 9-6, and the second ended 6-5 in extra innings.

“The team was so pumped to be playing at home, and on the dirt,” said Head Coach Sheila Gulas. “We got permission from the city to put the tarp on the field on Thursday, and then got to practice on the field on Friday.”

The first game for the Eagles on Saturday showed that they were ready to get going on their home field. Senior center fielder Taylor Menhart started the game off with a double and it didn’t stop there. 

Jen Moore led the team at the plate going three-for-four with three RBI’s. Junior catcher Bri Buckley was also a strong force for the Eagles, going three-for-three with two runs scored, three RBI’s and a triple in the bottom of the fifth inning.

“Right now, the important this is that we have everything together, especially going into conference play and that we stay confident,” said Gulas. “This team, not only physically but mentally, they just has a winning attitude and that fight, and that’s the thing that’s positive.”

Senior Amber McDermott received the win and advanced to 6-0 on the season. She stayed strong for seven innings, striking out three and walking two.

The second game started off strong for the Eagles, scoring two runs in the first inning, after a double by Menhart, smart base running by sophomore second baseman Kalene Freshour and a sacrifice fly by senior catcher Jerrica Young.

“They’re [ODU] a strong team. They’ve got some good hitters and good speed. Their pitching is probably their weakness,” Gulas said. “If you look at the play by play of both games, they both went back and forth. They started in the lead, then we went ahead, then them again.”

At the end of regulation in game two, the game was tied at five. 

Shelbie Prince started off the eighth with a walk, followed by a single by Ally Farrah. Menhart was given the walk on her at bat, which left bases loaded for Young. 

Young hit another sacrfice fly to center field, and Prince scored what would be the game-winning run.

Junior Brittany Flanigan stayed strong in the bottom of the eighth on the mound for the Eagles and was able to snag the win. She struck out seven batters and only had only one earned run.

The Eagles had 13 hits in the 6-5 victory. 

“We were seeing the ball really well,” said Gulas. “We have great power in the middle of our line up, as well as three slappers that do a great job in placing the ball.”

On Tuesday, the Eagles played on their home field once again against Notre Dame.

In Game 1 on Tuesday, senior pitcher Sarah Alley improved to 2-0 after authoring a complete-game four-hitter. She struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter.

Senior center fielder Taylor Menhart was 2-for-3 with a double, triple and three RBIs, while junior right fielder Shelbie Prince had a double and three RBIs in AU’s 11-hit attack. Junior third baseman Kayla Prokopakis and junior catcher Bri Buckley also had two hits in the opening victory.

In the nightcap, Menhart, the reigning Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week, had a home run and four RBIs and crossed the plate three times.

Junior first baseman Jen Moore was 2-for-2 with a homer, three RBIs and two runs scored, and sophomore second baseman Kalene Freshour, Buckley, Prince and sophomore left fielder Ally Farrah each had two of the Eagles’ 14 hits.

The Eagles will return to GLIAC play on Saturday at noon at home against Saginaw Valley State and Sunday at noon at home against Wayne State. Ashland is 2-0 in GLIAC play.