GRAYSON, Ky. --- The Asbury baseball team (27-14) met Oakland City University (30-22) Wednesday in the second round of the NCCAA Mideast Regional. The two teams met at the beginning of the season with Oakland City taking the victory over AU. In today's rematch it was the timely hitting and strong pitching of Asbury that lifted them over Oakland City, 4-3. 

Walker Paris, the NCCAA Mideast Region Player of the Year got the start on the mound for AU and backed up his award. Paris went 6.0 innings allowing only 2 runs on 5 hits and struck out 5. Caleb Poll came on in relief to get three outs for AU, handing the ball off in the 7th to Jackson Cole. Cole came into the game with AU leading 4-3 and pitched the final 2.1 innings allowing no hits and no runs to secure the victory for Asbury. 

AU got on the board first in the 3rd with a leadoff double from Cam Weaver who was scored on an RBI from Kaiden Zacharias. Oakland City punched back in the 4th with 2 runs of their own to take a 2-1 lead. Oakland City had the bases loaded with no outs and Paris managed to get 3 consecutive outs to keep them at 2 runs in the inning.

Asbury responded in the 5th by Cam Weaver and Kaden Dugle setting the table with singles to start the inning. Ethan Cartwright came through with a two-out RBI single to score Weaver, tying the game at 2-2. AU's offense got things going again in the 6th with singles from Nathaniel Frank and Colton Perkins. Kaden Dugle and Walker Paris each hit RBI singles to give Asbury the 4-2 lead.

AU held their lead for the remaining 3 innings, taking the win over Oakland City to move on to the championship game. 

* Walker Paris pitched 6.0 innings allowing only 2 runs, he also had 2 hits and an RBI

* Jackson Cole came on for 2.1 innings and the save allowing no hits and no runs

* Kaden Dugle and Nathaniel Frank each had 2 hits, Dugle with an RBI

* AU's pitching staff struck out 8 Oakland City hitters

* Asbury's offense had 12 hits, putting together 4 runs for the win

"It was a back and forth game for all 9 innings today. Our pitching, defense and timely hitting really got the job done for us and has us in the championship round."

     * Sophomore Pitcher, Jackson Cole

Asbury will match up with Oakland City once again Thursday in the championship game at 12 pm. Asbury will have to be beaten twice because they have not lost a game in the tournament.