ASHLAND, Ohio – Purdue Northwest pounded out 12 hits but couldn't overcome a four-run deficit in Sunday's 9-7 road setback to Ashland.
PNW logged 10 or more hits in three of the four games over the weekend at Donges Field, but dropped the series against the Eagles. The Pride fell to 9-16 (3-13 GLIAC) on the season while the Eagles improved to 15-12 (10-6 GLIAC).
Anthony Agne went 3-for-4 while
Brett Veltema and
Hunter Thorn turned in multi-hit outings at the plate. Thorn doubled and led the way by producing three runs in the contest.
Addtionally,
Jake Soules homered while
Ray Hilbrich and
Hayden Matulich also registered an RBI knock. Hilbrich extended his active hitting streak to 10 games.
Soules' solo shot in the first inning put the Pride up 1-0 early – it was also the third time this series that PNW scored first. But, Ashland countered with a sacrifice fly in the second to even it up.
Then with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Ashland strung together five consecutive hits including a pair of doubles to take command. The rally led to four runs and a 5-1 lead for the Eagles.
PNW plated two in the fifth and three in the sixth, but Ashland had an answer for the Pride scoring efforts in the home half of both frames.
Matulich stepped up with a clutch pinch-hit single to make it 7-5 in the sixth, it was the freshman's first collegiate RBI. PNW added another run in the inning off an error to make it 7-6. However, Ashland pushed a pair of unearned runs across in the bottom of the sixth to move back in front, 9-6.
PNW would load the bases with two outs in the seventh and brought a run home on Thorn's RBI walk. That was as close as the Pride could get the rest of the way.
Starter
Jackson Lund surrendered five earned runs on nine hits. The right-hander went four innings in his sixth start of the year.
Sean Casey and
Tristan Baker each tossed two innings of relief. Baker didn't allow a hit in his second outing of the season.
Ashland's Seth Schroeder went 3-for-4 to pace the Eagles at the plate, while Mike Flemming produced a two-run homer in the fifth.
NEXT UP
PNW hosts Wayne State next weekend in the final series at Dowling Park this season. Game 1 is scheduled for a 3 p.m. CDT first pitch.
