Ashland University sweeps Findlay in Great Midwest Athletic Conference Softball
ASHLAND — Cat Lohse has been waiting for a moment like this for some time and knew it was her day to shine.
Lohse lofted a fly ball to right field with one out and the bases loaded to score Ashley Veldeer from third with the winning run to lead the Ashland University softball team to a 6-5 win in the second game of a doubleheader against the University of Findlay on Senior Day Saturday at Deb Miller Field at the Archer Ballpark Complex in Great Midwest Athletic Conference play.
AU also won the first game 5-1 against Findlay, keeping their hopes of making it into the GMAC tournament alive. AU is now 11-9 in GMAC action and 19-25 overall. Findlay falls to 11-7 in the GMAC and 27-13 overall, respectively.
The second game was tied 5-5 entering the bottom of the seventh inning as Findlay scored one run in the top half of the inning.
With the bases loaded, Lohse said she felt confident stepping into the batter’s box.
“I’ve just got to get it deep so Ashley can score, she’s a heck of a baserunner and we just needed to get her home,” Lohse said. “Put the ball in play and know she’s going to do her job if I do mine.”
Lohse has had an up-and-down career since her freshman season when she had a tremendous season, then Covid hit, and she battled injuries in recent seasons.
“My four years have not been at all like I thought they would be,” she noted. “For that moment to come down to me, it was hard but it was special, and it’s something I worked a lot for so I’m glad I got the chance.
“Our class has been through a lot and for us to come away on Senior Day with two huge wins was huge for us.”
Ashland University coach Emllyn Knerem said she had all the confidence in the world for Lohse.
“Kids like that who have just been through so much, and a lot that’s been out of her control, between the injuries and the illnesses, concussions, just the stuff she’s been through she’s fought back,” Knerem lauded. “To see her excel this year, to see her do that. She knew she didn’t have to do too much. She knew she just needed a base hit or fly ball of some kind. And she did it, so I’m so proud of her.”
Ashland scored three runs in the first inning before Finlday tied the game with three runs in the third. The Oilers went ahead 4-3 with a single run in the sixth inning but the Eagles took a 5-4 lead with a pair of runs in the home half of the sixth when AU freshman ripped a 2-RBI triple to center but was thrown out at home.
Findlay then tied the game at 5-5 with a run in the seventh as Avery Shepherd doubled and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly.
Senior Josie Duncan started in the circle for AU, yielding three runs on seven hits in 2 ⅓ innings before being relieved by freshman Delaney Lis who ended up getting the win, going 4 ⅔ innings, giving up a pair of runs on seven hits with a strikeout.
Lis also pitched in the first game, getting the final out with Findlay threatening with the bases loaded.
“All of these seniors I’ve really looked up to. I always have their back because they’re huge role models and I know they’re going to do their job,” Lis offered. “And I’ll come on and do my job when it’s time. Me and my catcher (junior Jordyn Severns) have gotten to know each other really well. She knows me and knows what pitches to call in what situations, and it helps a lot that I have my defense behind me at all times.”
Lily Rockwell doubled, singled twice and drove in a run for the Eagles, Maddy Burdette doubled, singled and plated a run, with Hailey Struckman socking a double, and Lauren McMillan, Lohse and Kaitlyn Carney adding singles.
Defensively, Robbins turned in a couple of eye-opening gems when she dove to her left in the first game at second base and threw to first to get a Findlay batter. In the second game, she back-peddled into the outfield, reached up and speared what looked to be a sure hit by a Findlay player.
“I go out there and just do my best for my team, I’m really lucky to be able to play with these guys, so every game I just go out there and throw by body out for a ball,” said Robbins, who punched out three singles and walked in the first game before legging out the big triple in the nightcap. “Every time I step in the box I just think about what I need to do for my team, and I’m just going all out for them because I want to win.”
Senior Kayla Ruperto got the win in the circle for AU in the first game, tossing 6 ⅔ innings of four-hit ball with one strikeout.
“Findlay’s a very good team so once again, it was kind of the same mindset coming in, be efficient, just let my defense work and that’s what happened today,” Ruperto pointed out. “There are a lot of emotions. It’s exciting to win those two games against a very good team, especially on Senior Day.
For AU, Rockwell singled twice and drove in a pair of runs, Struckman doubled and singled, McMillan singled in a run, Cassidy Shaffer doubled, and Burdette plated a run with a single.
All seven AU seniors (Carney, Duncan, Haylee Frost, McMillan, Lohse, Ruperto, Struckman) were honored in-between games.
“This group has been through so much, and they wanted something different this year for themselves and for the program,” Knerem said of her upperclassmen. “They have seen what has been going on in the last couple of years, and they wanted something different. They were really determined to do that as a group.
“They are probably the most cohesive group of seniors I’ve ever seen, they get along so well, they get each other, they care about each other,” Knerem added. “I think they’re going to be lifelong friends, I really do. That has made a difference because they’ve been a unit all year. They have bought into the program, they have not quit. They’ve just stuck with it and stuck with us. And that means a lot, And I have a lot of pride in who they are as people, and that they represent our program, and I think they’re really leaving their mark on Ashland softball.”
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland University sweeps Findlay in Great Midwest Athletic Conference Softball
