The Ashland University baseball team completed a rare feat last week when the men played and won three games in a single day. Tiffin traveled to Ashland for a double header last Thursday but first finished a game that was suspended back on March 30.

After the three-game Thursday, Wayne State was scheduled to play back-to-back double headers Friday and Saturday, but the second game of Friday’s double header was scrapped due to poor weather conditions.

Overall, Ashland won four of the six games, dropping the final two to Wayne State.

Tiffin Game 1

Ashland was up 2-0 against the Dragons in the second inning when play was stopped and was up 8-4 Thursday when the final out was recorded.

The Eagles put up three runs in the fourth inning thanks to an Evan Melendez two RBI single to right center scoring Matt McAllester and Adam Murphy. John Kuzio then scored off an RBI double down the left field line off the bat of Austin Erb. A Kuzio single in the top of the fifth scored Ethan Reese giving AU the 6-0 advantage.

The Tiffin bats came to life in the bottom of the fifth against AU pitcher Cole Hudson. The Dragons scored four runs on four hits before hitting into an inning ending double play. Tiffin climbed within two of the Eagles before Ashland added some insurance in the top of the seventh.

An RBI double by McAllester scored pinch-runner Anthony Siciliano and an RBI single by Melendez scored McAllester.

McAllester led the Eagles going 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and an RBI. Melendez was 3-for-5 with three RBI for AU. Both Tyler Gray and Murphy went 2-for-3.

The win went to Hudson (2-0) while Eric Vaughan picked up his first save of the season.

Tiffin Game 2

Brad Thomas got the start for Ashland’s 3-1 game two triumph over Tiffin. Thomas allowed just an unearned run on five hits with no walks and three strikeouts improving. The win improved his record to 4-4 this season.

Ashland got runners on and moved them over in the opening innings as Ashland plated a run in both the first and second innings. Gray got the first RBI of the game when he drove a ball to right field scoring McAllester. Ryan Avery scored after getting hit by a pitch and reaching second on a throwing error. Reese gave AU the 2-0 lead by singling in Avery.

Tiffin got their only run of the game in the fifth inning before Thomas ended the inning by picking off Michael Dushane at first base.

Head coach John Schaly didn’t take any chances bringing in starter Ajay Meyer to pitch the final two innings for AU. Meyer didn’t disappoint striking out two and not allowing a single hit. The save was Meyer’s second this season.

Kuzio and Gray were the only Eagles to get multiple hits. Both infielders went 2-for-3 in game two.

Tiffin Game 3

Coming off his game one save, Vaughan took the mound in game three for AU. Vaughn pitched all seven innings giving up two runs on five hits. Ashland completed the sweep defeating Tiffin, 5-2 improving Vaughn’s record to 4-2.

Tiffin starter, Chris Sauber went 4.1 innings including blanking the Eagles for the first three innings. The game was scoreless until Vaughan got roughed up for two runs in the top of the fourth. Jordan Chiero was awarded first base after being hit by a pitch and later stole home for Tiffin’s second run of the inning.

Down 2-0, Ashland put runs on the board in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

The first run came in the fourth when Wade Kaido hit a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to center scoring Klein. Ashland then plated two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings securing the 5-2 victory.

Vaughan retired the last nine batters he faced. For the day, Vaughan threw 9.2 innings allowing just two runs on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

At the plate, Ashland combined to put the ball in play 12 times as all but two AU starters got a hit. Gray, Avery, Klein and Melendez all went 2-for-4. Gray added two RBI for the Eagles.

Wayne State Game 1

Junior Aaron Hilt pitched a one-hit complete game walking one and striking out three. The 10-0 shellacking of Wayne State improved Hilt’s scoreless innings streak to 24. Hilt has been good all season but fantastic as of late improving his record to 5-1. The shutout was the eighth on the season for AU setting a single season record.

The Ashland bats knocked Wayne State starter, Alex Pierse out after just 2.0 innings of work as AU scored three runs in the first two frames. Ashland went on to score in every inning except the sixth.

Ashland blew the game open in the bottom of the third inning scoring five runs on four hits.

Hilt kept Wayne State in check by allowing the only Warrior hit to come in the first.

Ashland added its final run in the fifth inning when Kuzio and Gray drew lead-off walks. Melendez followed with a one-out single to load the bases. Klein came through with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Hilt ran into some trouble in the bottom of the seventh after a series of pinch hitters and free passes loaded the bases. Hilt got out of the inning without giving up a hit lowering his ERA to 0.82.

Melendez, Klein and Murphy each had multiple hits for the Eagles highlighted by Klein’s four RBI. Klein and Kuzio each scored twice for AU.

Andrew Ciennik was the only Warrior to reach base by way of a hit in the opening game.

After the weather wiped out the second game of the first double header, the two teams played a double header Saturday. Unfortunately for Ashland, Wayne State won the first game, 5-4 as well as the second game, 8-1.

Wayne State Game 2

Ajay Meyer got the start and completed his ninth game in as many starts for Ashland. Regrettably, this complete game came in the fashion of a 5-4 loss. Meyer gave up eight hits resulting in five runs (four earned).

The scoring started when Meyer gave up a leadoff homerun in the second inning to Michael Wiseman. The flood gates opened in the top of the third when Meyer gave up four runs on four hits. The Warriors loaded the bases with no outs and cashed in taking the 5-0 lead.

Back-to-back one-out doubles in the fourth by Kuzio and Melendez got the Eagles started. A walk and a passed ball allowed Klein to pick up an RBI after grounding out to first base.

The score was 5-2 going into the bottom of the sixth when Avery smacked a double to left center scoring Gray and Melendez.

Down by only one run, Ashland was unable to tie the game as Billy Hurley retired the first three batters of the seventh inning.

Billy Hurley improved his record to 8-0 with the win as Meyer’s record fell to 7-2. The save was Hurley’s sixth on the season.

At the plate, Melendez was the only Eagle to earn two hits going 2-for-3 with a double. On the season, Melendez is batting .338.

Wayne State Game 3

The third and final game of the season between these clubs went to Wayne State as the Warriors (26-11, 17-7 GLIAC) roughed up the Ashland pitchers.

Joe Malfara only lasted an inning giving up four runs (two earned). Thomas followed with 1.2 innings of work but gave up three runs on four hits. Only one of those runs was charged to Thomas.

Vince Frate was the pitcher who labored the most for AU. The freshman threw 2.1 innings giving up one run.

David Devine and Andrew Pinkelman combined to toss the final two innings for Ashland but offensively, Ashland only mustered a single run in the fourth inning.

The run came off the bat of Avery who hit a single to left field scoring McAllester.

Ashland matched their number of hits with errors (3) while Wayne State compiled ten hits. Avery had two of Ashland three hits.

McAllester was the only other Eagle to get a hit against Brett Shankin. Shankin improved his record to 6-1 while Malfara’s record fell to 1-3.

Ashland’s doubleheader at Lake Erie was unavailable at press time. The two split a doubleheader April 7. Ashland (25-14, 14-10 GLIAC) is scheduled for a double header at Findlay April 30.

May 7, the Eagles are hosting Baseball Youth Day at Donges Field, sponsored by Pizza Hut. AU is playing Hillsdale at 2 p.m. The event is for kids 12 and under and includes a goodie bag, pizza, drink and a raffle ticket to win various prizes. If registration is completed by May 2, the child will also receive a free t-shirt. Admission to the event is free for all. To register or if fans have any questions, they can contact AU director of athletic marketing at 419.289.5954 or send an email to [email protected].