SANDUSKY, Ohio – Purdue Northwest piled up a season-best 21 hits in a doubleheader sweep over Ashland on Friday to claim the season-series win over the Eagles. The Pride took the first game at Sports Force Park, 7-0, and won the second game by a 6-2 margin.
PNW improved to 13-23 overall and 10-15 in conference games, while Ashland dropped to 13-27 (10-20 GLIAC) on the season.
GAME 1: PNW 7, AU 0
Jessica Weaver tossed a four-hit shutout to lead the Pride in a 7-0 Game 1 victory. It's the first shutout this season for a PNW pitcher against a GLIAC opponent. Weaver also hit a pair of doubles at the plate, including an RBI knock in the first inning to help her cause. She picked up her fourth win inside the circle where she has racked up at least five strikeouts in four of her previous five outings.
PNW took advantage by striking early in both contests, including a pair of runs in the top of the first frame in the opening game.
Madison Schultz knocked in the first run on a single to right field and Weaver stepped in next with a double to right center to bring Schultz around.
The Pride registered three consecutive singles to begin the third inning which led to two more runs.
Aubrey Shroyer recorded her second of three hits in the game followed by base knocks by
Ashley Bravo and
Briana Poehler. Shroyer scored on a wild pitch before Poehler's single to left center scored Bravo to give PNW a 4-0 lead.
Then, Shroyer and Bravo kept it going in the sixth with back-to-back, two-out RBI singles. Shroyer beat out an infield hit to the pitcher which allowed
Allison Arnold to score, while Bravo followed that up with a single to right field to plate two more. Arnold led off the frame with a triple to left field.
Five different players registered an RBI including Shroyer, Bravo, Poehler, Schultz and Weaver. Shroyer collected her 12th multi-hit game and sixth showing with three hits. The Pride outhit the Eagles 10-4 in the league matchup.
Ashland's Kayla Ruperto (5-6) was saddled with the loss and charged with six earned runs in seven innings of work.
GAME 2: PNW 6, AU 2
PNW tallied its third-highest hit total on the season with 11 base knocks in the second game of Friday's twinbill.
Starting pitcher
Courtney Blackwell recorded her second straight complete-game victory while allowing just three infield hits. Two of which were recorded in the fourth inning. The right-hander improved to 7-9 on the season and struck out three batters in the win.
Jessica DeBoer (3-for-4, RBI) produced her first career three-hit game to lead the Pride at the dish. Three others had a pair of knocks including Schultz (2-for-4, 3 R), Weaver (2-for-2, 3 RBI, 2 R) and Arnold (2-for-4, 2 RBI).
PNW jumped ahead early with three runs in the first inning. Weaver plated the first two on a triple to right center while Arnold followed next with an RBI single to center. Arnold produced again in the third inning after a Schultz double to give the Pride a 4-0 advantage.
Two more runs came across in the seventh after Weaver recorded her third double and fourth extra-base hit of the day. Weaver knocked in Schultz, who scored three times in the nightcap, and then DeBoer brought Weaver around on a single to left field.
Ashland plated its two runs in the fourth on a ground out to second base and a two-out infield single.
The Eagles' Jillian Middleton took the loss with six earned runs allowed on 11 hits.
NEXT UP
PNW will host Wayne State tomorrow and Northwood on Sunday in the final matchups of the regular season.
