BEREA, Ky. --- The Asbury Eagles baseball team matched up with Grove City College on Saturday evening, the first ever matchup between these two teams. Each of the two programs are coming off record 2021 seasons as they each set their school win record in their previous campaign (AU - 38 wins, Grove City - 28 wins). 

This game saw many base hits but would end up being a pitching battle between the two ball clubs. Walker Paris received the start for AU providing 6 innings of work, only allowing 2 earned runs and striking out 5. Tate Ostrowski took the ball for Grove City and put together a solid start, going 6 innings allowing only 3 earned runs and collecting 6 strikeouts. 

Grove City struck first scoring 2 runs in the top of the 3rd on 4 hits, but Walker Paris would also leave 2 Grove City runners on base. AU would quickly respond off a Kaden Dugle 2 out RBI double scoring Walker Paris to cut the deficit to 1 in the bottom of the 3rd. As Paris settled in on the mound for AU, the Eagle offense would get going again in the bottom of the 5th putting up another 2 spot to take the lead, 3-2. These 2 runs came off the bat of none other than the pitcher Walker Paris, scoring Kaiden Zacharias and Alec Lush on his 2 RBI double. 

The game would be handed over to the bullpen for both clubs in the 7th as Jackson Cole got the ball for AU and Nick Guidas got it for Grove City. Both of these bullpen arms would settle in quickly as neither team would score until Grove City tied the game in the top of the 9th to extend the game, 3-3. The game would go all the way into the 11th as Holten Handle and Bryce Barber also came out of the pen for AU to hold Grove City at 3. In the bottom of the 11th after a Matthew Johnson leadoff double and base hit from Noah Brown, Matthew Johnson scored the winning run on a wild pitch to end the game, 4-3 AU.  

* Walker Paris pitched 6 innings for AU allowing only 2 runs and striking out 5. From the plate Paris went 2-4 with 2 RBIs and a walk

* Jackson Cole went 3 innings for AU striking out 4 and only allowing 1 run

* Matthew Johnson collected 2 hits in the game, including a double that would lead to him scoring the game winning run

* Holten Handel and Bryce Barber were key out of the bullpen for AU each providing a scoreless inning of work in extra innings

* Asbury's pitching staff was able to get outs when it mattered the most, leaving 18 Grove City baserunners on base

* AU had 4 doubles in the game that were essential in allowing them to score the runs they needed to win the game

"If I had to sum up tonight's performance to one word for the pitching staff it would be gutsy. Grove City was a scrappy group of hitters and made our guys really work for outs. The boys in purple showed a lot of heart and I am very proud of the performance they displayed."

     * Assistant Coach Will McDonald

AU will return to Berea, Ky tomorrow afternoon to face off with Berea College at 2 PM.