Eagles Set New Standard for Wins
OWENSBORO, Ky. – Asbury extended their winning streak to a season-high eight games on Friday, taking two from conference rival Brescia 7-4 and 8-3. Both games were shortened to five innings in an attempt to beat the severe weather expected to hit the area.
With the sweep the Eagles set a new school record for wins in a season with their 26th and 27th victories. They pass the 1999 and 2009 teams that both won 25 games. This year’s record of 27-11-2 is the best winning percentage in school history and is the third straight 20-win season, Asbury had only two 20-win seasons prior to bringing the program back in 2008.
Starting pitching continues to be the key to success for the Eagles as both Greg Bowling and Gardner Adams threw complete games on Friday. Bowling scattered eight hits over five innings allowing four runs in improving to 5-2 on the season. Brescia scored three of their runs in the bottom of the first, taking a 3-2 lead but the Eagles answered with three of their own in the top of the second to take a 5-3 lead and never looked back.
In game two Adams struck out seven over five innings in winning his ninth game of the season. He leads the KIAC in wins and ranks eighth in the NAIA. He allowed only four hits and three runs, only two were earned. Adams lowered his ERA to 3.21 moving past Bowling (3.24) for the team lead.
Evan Thomsen was 5-for-5 with a double and his first triple of the season over the two games. Thomsen drove in four and scored two runs. With his effort Thomsen takes over the team lead in batting average at .333 (includes only players qualified by NAIA minimum standards of 2.5 plate appearance per team game). Danny Olszowy, Aaron Rowe, and Casey Messner each had a two-hit game with Messner’s coming in game two.
Due to rainouts this coming week’s schedule has changed in order to make-up conference games. Asbury will travel to Berea on Thursday for a 6:00 pm doubleheader then head back to Brescia on Friday for a 3:00 pm doubleheader. They will return home for Senior Day on Saturday at 12:00 pm as they host Cincinnati-Clermont. The 2011 KIAC Tournament will be May 4-7 in Owensboro.
