The Ashland University Baseball team hosted the Ohio Dominican Panthers for one game on Apr. 14. In the wild contest, the teams combined for 27 runs scored, 32 total hits, and 11 total pitchers. Additionally, this matchup took place one week after their first meeting of the season, where the Eagles got the win by a final score of 11-1.
In the game, the Panthers came out and got on the board early. However, as graduate student Collin Overholt stepped up to the plate to lead off the game for Ashland, he would send a single shot home run over the right field wall to tie the game at one a piece. Yet, that is not all the Eagles had in store for the bottom of the first. Senior Ryan Shimek was up next, and his at bat was merely a copy and paste sending a home run near the exact spot as his lead off teammate. After one inning, it was 2-1 Eagles.
Ashland then went on to shut out ODU quickly in both the top of the second and third innings, while tacking on six runs in the bottom of the second along with two more in the bottom of the third. The Eagles led 10-1 after three innings.
But just as soon as Ashland thought the score would sit similar to a week ago, Ohio Dominican made some changes from the pitching mound and found some momentum. The only two innings of the game Ashland would go scoreless would be the fourth and fifth, and after that added one more in the sixth. This is where the Panthers made their move. They would go on to score eight runs in those three innings. After six, it was 11-9 Eagles.
Ashland knew they had to make a change themselves, and this is where true freshman Brody Saunders came into the game. Saunders would go on to finish the final three innings of the game and with five strikeouts (SOs), while only allowing 2 hits, one run, and one walk. Ashland added some insurance runs throughout the seventh and eighth bringing the final score to 17-10 in favor of the purple and gold.
Leading the way for the Eagles was Overholt, who played incredible with five hits, 2 runs batted in (RBIs), and four runs scored in five at bats. Saunders was credited with the win as he now advances to 2-0 in his freshman campaign.
The Eagles now move to 24-13 overall on the season and 12-8 within the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). Their next matchup will be a weekend series against the Tiffin Dragons at home. Friday, Apr. 17 will feature a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m., followed by one game on Saturday and Sunday also beginning at 1 p.m.
