Eagles Bounce Back with Sweep of Berea

WILMORE, Ky. – Asbury bounced back from a disappointing conference loss to end Wednesday night to sweep KIAC rival Berea 8-4 and 4-2 on Thursday night.  Asbury battled back from early 2-0 deficits in both games to improve to 7-3 overall at 5-1 in the KIAC.

In game one Berea scored two runs in the top of the first as the Mountaineers pieced together three hits capped off by Harley Catron’s two RBI single to right field.  Asbury pitcher Maris Harreld would allow only three more hits the rest of the way as she improved to 4-1 on the season.

Harreld went the distance, her third complete game of the season, allowing four runs but only two of them were earned.  Berea added two runs in the fourth to tie the game at 4-4, both runs scoring after a throwing error by Harreld.  Harreld walked one and struck out four.

The Eagles pounded out nine hits including three in both the third and fourth innings.  Asbury scored four times in the third to take a 4-2 lead.  Mary Ann Warford knocked in two with a bases loaded single, then would score along with Kendall Ratchford after a throwing error by the pitcher.  Warford finished with two hits. 

Ratchford and Stephanie Wade would also collect two hits in the game, piecing them together in the fourth to break open a 4-4 tie.  Wade singled to right with two outs and was followed by Sarah Patrick who doubled Wade home.  Ratchford then followed with her first triple of the season.  Asbury would add two more in the fifth as Maris Harreld and Amber Taylor knocked in runs with sacrifice flies.

Berea would again take an early 2-0 lead in game two, scoring twice in the second as they pieced together three hits and took advantage of two Asbury errors.  Berea’s Tessla Arvin didn’t allow a hit through 4.2 innings of work but then the flood gates opened.

Brittany Hogg pinch hit and singled to right, followed by Wade’s pinch-hit single.  Ratchford singled in a run and advanced to second on the throw.  With runners on second and third Warford slapped a ball down the left field line scoring both runners, a field error by the left fielder allowed Warford to scamper all the way home.  Before the next batter Berea would appeal the play and Warford would be called out for missing third base.

Asbury would score one more in the sixth as Patrick belted her first career home run to left field.  Kelsey Robinson (2-1) threw all seven innings allowing only four hits and two runs, one earned.  She struck out five and walked one.

Asbury will close out the week with their fourth straight day with a doubleheader as they host West Virginia Tech on Friday at 5:00 pm.