Ajay Meyer has started three games for the Eagles this year and completed all of them, including Sunday’s 6-3 win against Bellarmine.

Game one

So far this year, Meyer has pitched 25 innings and struck out 29 batters. The win over the Knights was the second consecutive game Meyer finished with double-digit strike outs.

The Bellarmine bats got to Meyer early in the first inning thanks to back-to-back doubles resulting in two runs. Ashland came right back in the top of the fourth with four runs, giving all the run support Meyer would need.

After a ground out to short, senior Ryan Avery tripled to the gap in right center. Freshman catcher Adam Murphy singled scoring Avery. Ethan Houck singled scoring Murphy, followed by a sacrifice fly to right by Evan Melendez scoring sophomore shortstop Matt Gundlach. Ashland’s fourth and final run of the inning was scored by senior second baseman Matt McAllester off a passed ball.

The run support settled Meyer down as the senior didn’t allow another run until the bottom of the ninth inning.

Ashland’s ace gave up just three hits over the final eight innings and at one point, Meyer retired 14 consecutive batters.

The scoring continued for Ashland in the fifth inning as Melendez led off with a single to center, followed by Austin Erb reaching on an error. Mitch Klein doubled down the left field line scoring Melendez, giving AU the 5-2 lead.

The Eagles put another run on the board in the top of the eighth when Avery found himself on third base for the second time, this time off a single accompanied by a throwing error. Murphy sent a base hit out to center, scoring Avery for Ashland’s sixth run of the game.

Avery, Murphy and Gundlach each had two hits apiece for AU, highlighted by Murphy’s two RBIs.

McAllester reached base three times courtesy of walks, scoring a run.

No Knight had more than one hit.

Game two

Bellarmine and the Knights (7-8) got the best of Ashland in the second game, winning 9-4. The Eagles now have a record of 9-4 on the season.

Brad Thomas started for the Eagles and went 3.2 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits. Thomas ran into trouble in the fourth inning and was unable to get out of the inning. Eric Vaughan relieved Thomas, allowing another three runs on six more hits in 2.1 innings of work.

Andrew Pinkleman threw two innings, shutting down Bellarmine and allowed no runs or hits.

Murphy was behind the plate again for AU but went 3-for-4 with a double at the plate. Avery had another two hits going 4-for-9 in the two games while scoring four runs. Gundlach, Erb, Melendez and Houck each had two hits in the losing effort.

Ashland now opens up GLIAC play at home Saturday (Mar. 26) against Northwood. The home opener is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start at the recently improved Donges field.