HANOVER, Ind. — The Asbury University baseball team (8-15, 3-3 CCS) dropped a midweek road contest to Hanover College (7-11, 2-2 HCAC) by a final score of 8-4 on Tuesday afternoon at K.T. Young Ballpark.
Hanover used a big third inning to create separation early, plating six runs in the frame to build a lead the Eagles were unable to overcome.
The Panthers struck first in the second inning on a solo home run from Josh Simpson before breaking the game open in the third. Hanover capitalized on timely hitting and an Asbury defensive miscue, stringing together multiple RBI singles and a sacrifice fly to take a 7-0 advantage.
Asbury answered in the fourth inning, loading the bases before Edison Burke drew an RBI walk to bring home Josh McNulty and put the Eagles on the board. Hanover responded in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single to extend its lead to 8-1.
The Eagles continued to battle late, manufacturing runs in the seventh and ninth innings. In the seventh, Andrew Billington came around to score on a wild pitch, while another run crossed the plate on a double play to trim the deficit to 8-3. Asbury added one more in the ninth when Ben Krza delivered an RBI single, scoring Billington once again to make it 8-4.
On the mound, Samuel Marshall got the start for Asbury lasting 2.2 innings, while Wesley Stewart was the first in relief for AU. The Eagles bullpen settled in after the early innings, as Drew Dugger and Brandon McKindley combined for 4.2 scoreless innings to keep Asbury within striking distance.
Offensively, the Eagles were limited to five hits but showed patience at the plate, drawing nine walks in the contest. Burke led the way with an RBI and two walks, while Krza added a hit and RBI off the bench.
Hanover was led by Simpson, who finished with two hits and two RBI's, while Quinten Shewmaker (1-0) earned the win in relief.
Asbury looks on to the weekend, welcoming Huntingdon College to Wilmore, Ky., for a three-game set starting with a doubleheader Friday evening at 4 PM.
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Edison Burke | H, RBI, R, 2 BB
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Andrew Billington | 2 R, BB
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Ben Krza | H, RBI, BB
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Cam Weaver | H
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Avery Hare | H, 2 BB
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Josh McNulty | H, R
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Drew Dugger | 1.2 IP, 0 ER, K
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Brandon McKindley | 3 IP, 0 ER, 3 K
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