Karis Weirich pitches Ashland U past Ferris State

ASHLAND —Karis Weirich was simply spot-on for seven straight innings.

The Ashland University freshman wasted no time in delivering a one-hit shutout to lead the Lady Eagles to a 1-0 non-conference win against Ferris State Tuesday in the second game of a double-header at Deb Miller Field at the Archer Sports Complex.

Ferris State won the opener 8-3, exploding for five runs in the top of the seventh.

Weirich was as efficient as she was working the zone the entire game, working with two catchers, sophomore Rachel Reuter for the first five innings before freshman Heather Lausche took over for the final two frames.

“I felt really good, it was an awesome first home outing for me, the first time playing on the home field so that was really nice,” Weirich said. “I felt good, I felt strong.”

AU coach Emlyn Knerem says Weinrich's performance was one to behold.

“I think she has a ton of potential to be a phenomenal pitcher for us,” Knerem said. “And she’s been sick, and kind of going through some things since we got back from spring break, so it was really nice to see get out there and be in control of her game and be very focused on the mound. I thought she looked really, really good. That’s about as good as I’ve seen her this season, and I’m excited to see where she goes from here.”

Weirich said pretty much everything was working for her in the circle.

“My change-up really did help keeping hitters off-balanced and all that but I think everything was pretty spot-on today,” she said, adding getting a run in the third inning as Ashland took a 1-0 lead also helped.

“For sure,” she said. “And my defense was phenomenal, and I wouldn’t have been able to do that without my defense. And our hitting, even that clutch hit, was huge for us.”

Weirich was referring to the Eagles plating the only run in the game in the third inning.

With one out, freshman Danielle Robbins singled up the middle and promptly stole second base with ease. A pick-off throw to second by the Ferris State catcher went into center, with Robbins scampering to third. Ashland freshman Ashley Veldeer then singled sharply to left to score Robbins with what proved to be the game-winning run.

“I was going up to bat and I was just trying to hit the ball hard in play, just trying to get Danielle in because Karis had been pitching a heck of a game,” Veldeer said. “All of us in the field were playing really good defense, and I just wanted to push one run in at least, to kind and get everything rolling for our team.

“My biggest thing I was trying to do was get a base hit, trying to hit a line drive, because my goal when I go up to bat is hit it hard, just try to move the runner, score the run, do whatever I can.”

Robbins, one of the team’s speedsters and top base stealer, set the stage with her hit, stolen base, and then took advantage of the Bulldogs’ lone error in the game.

“It was a really big win for us and we all just took advantage of the opportunities we were given and went out there and played hard like we always play,” Robbins offered. “It was a really close game. I feel like we all go up there in the box and just think about what we have to do for the team and we want to go up there and get a hit for our team.”

Robbins also had a superb defensive gem in the top of the third inning when the second baseman went up the middle to dive for a ball, then pitched it to Veldeer at second who came over from her shortstop position for a key out. In the fifth, Robbins made a nice scoop on a grounder and tossed it to Lily Rockwell at first for an out. That play was backed by an equally fine play by Veldeer, who caught a ball going back to her right just into left field for the final out of the inning.

“It’s really important to have solid defense, especially when they’re hitting the ball a lot,” Robbins said. “When the ball does come to us, we have to make sure we get those plays.”

Knerem said the team’s overall defense has been a focus from day one.

“That is something we have talked about all season about being the cornerstone of our program, and our defense has done a really good job,” she said. “They always come up with that play when we need it, it’s gotten us out of some jams, and it gives the pitchers more confidence too, to be able to throw their game,and not be worried they have to take everything on their shoulders, but that the defense is going to work for them.”

Ferris State also got a nice pitching performance from McKenzie Cleland, who went the first 4⅓ innings, surrendering the one run on five hits with three strikeouts. Aryn Gallagher finished up, relinquishing no hits with a trio of strikeouts.

The lone hit by the Bulldogs came in the top of the sixth when Kaitlyn Fick reached on an infield single on a ball hit off of Weirich’s outstretched glove.

Robbins ended with two singles, with Rockwell and Chloe McClure adding singles.

In the first game, AU took a 1-0 lead after one inning but Ferris State came back with three in the third inning to go up 3-1.The Bulldogs then put up five in the top of the seventh. AU did rally for a pair of runs in the bottom half of the same frame.

Robbins and Cat Lohse each singled twice for AU, with Jordyn Severns, Hailey Struckman (RBI), and McClure adding singles.

Cassidy Shafer (RBI) suffered the loss in the circle for AU, yielding three runs on 11 hits with one strikeout. Mady Hannahs gave up five runs on five hits in relief before Jose Duncan got the final two outs with one strikeout.

Catherine O’Donohue earned the win for Ferris State, yielding one run on six hits, and fanning three in five innings. Gallagher finished, giving up two runs on one hit.

Knerem is hoping the team can use the second game win to start a new winning streak., A week ago, the sixth-year coach earned the 100th win of her career against Lake Erie.

“It was really cool, the girls were excited, the parents were excited, and it’s been a really long six years,” she said. “We’ve gone through a lot, even in the last three years, since COVID. I give a lot of credit to the girls for going out there every day. They’re the ones playing, I just write the lineup. They have to be the ones who play and get those wins, and I think we are on an upward trajectory and I’m excited to see where we go.”

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: College Softball: Ashland's Weirich shuts out Ferris St.