Bats Heat Up In Cold Weather
Wilmore, KY---The temperature outside stayed barely above freezing but the bats were hot in Asbury's double-header split with Bethel (IN) College Saturday February 21st. The Eagles won game one 16-13, and would drop game two in a rain shortened five innings 14-10.
The Eagles wasted no time touching up Bethel's starter Chad Emberton, scoring three runs in each of the first two innings. Slade Halvaksz led off the bottom of the first with a triple to right center. He scored on a Gardner Adams sacrifice fly. After two walks Blake Englehardt would knock in pinch runner Danny Olszowy on a single to right. Josh Cummins would add an RBI infield single to cap the first inning scoring.
After batting around Halvaksz would get things started in the second with a walk. He would later score on an error. The Eagles would add runs on a passed ball and sac fly. Asbury would hold a 6-3 lead after two and would not slow down adding two more each in the third and fourth. Bethel would rally in the top of the fifth scoring six times to tie the game at 10. Bethel would be led by left fielder Jon Rolon who hit two home runs and drove in four in game one.
Asbury would respond by putting a six spot up in the bottom of the sixth. Englehardt would knock in two on a double to right center, he would finish with three hits and three RBI's in game one. Travis McConathy would come on in the seventh to hold off another rally and earn his first save of the season retiring the only batter he faced. Will Blackburn would pick up his first win of the season after pitching 2.1 innings in relief.
Game two wouldn't be much different as the winds continued to gust and carry the ball out towards right and center field. Asbury starter Mark Deetsch struggled early giving up 2 runs in the first and 7 runs over 1.2 innings on the day. Eagles' catcher Zach Monroe would give Asbury the lead temporarily with a 3-run homer that landed near second base on the softball field.
The lead wouldn't last as Bethel answered with 6 in the top of the second and took an 8-3 lead. It would stay that way until the bottom of the fourth when Asbury exploded for six. Travis Martin hit a one-out double down the left field line scoring Evan Thomsen. Halvaksz would add an infield single scoring Denton Hopwood. Gardner Adams followed with an RBI single of his own. Monroe would follow with his second homer of the game and already his fifth of the season, he led the team with a team record seven last year. The rally would be all in vain as Bethel answered with a six spot of their own in the top of the fifth.
The rain would come in the fifth and was too much by the sixth with the umpires calling the game during the top of the sixth. Since the inning was not completed everything rolls back to the last completed inning for the final score of 14-10.
The Eagles will host Cincinnati Christian University at 3pm on Tuesday February 24th.
