Ciolek's Heroics, Pitching Lead to Sweep of Lancers

WILMORE, Ky. – Matt Ciolek hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning giving Asbury a 3-2 victory over Grace College (Ind.) in game one of a double-header.  The Eagles would win game two 7-2 thanks to a strong pitching performance from Jon Wes Adams.

Asbury (5-2-2) trailed throughout game one as the Lancers (0-6) picked up two runs in the top of the sixth, right after the Eagles had runners at first and third with no outs and failed to score.  Grace singled and tripled in the sixth before a sac fly brought home the second run off of Asbury starter Greg Bowling.  Bowling bounced back to retire the next three batters to escape any further damage.

Bowling pitched seven innings, striking out seven while walking no one and giving up only five hits.  On the year Bowling has a 2.13 ERA in 12.2 innings, he’s only giving up three earned runs.  Josh Thigpen and Gardner Adams each pitch an inning in relief, allowing only one more hit.  Adams picked up the win (2-0) after a perfect ninth.

The bottom of the ninth started with Zander Gross legging out an infield single to third.  He was sacrificed over to second before Ciolek belted his first homer of the season to right. 

In game two, Jon Wes Adams continued his brilliant start to the season by tossing five innings of five hit ball.  He struck out three and walked one, and gave up only one run.  He improves to 2-0 on the season and lowers his ERA to 1.80. 

The Eagles took advantage of three errors in the first inning, scoring five runs.  Zander Gross got it started with a double and later scored on a throwing error by the catcher.  After a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases Evan Thomsen scored on a balk.  Cody Christopher hit a sac fly scoring Asbury’s third run before Travis Martin beat out an infield single to score the fourth.  Greg Bowling at-bat produced the fifth run after he reached on a fielding error by the shortstop.

Danny Olszowy belted his first home run of the season in the third as he capped off his day with three hits in the two games. The Eagles would add their final run in the fifth.  Bowling stole three of the Eagles’ five bases in the game.

Asbury is scheduled to travel to Campbellsville for one game on Tuesday before playing five games over three days at home starting on Thursday.