Ashland U softball gets important split with Tiffin

ASHLAND — Jordyn Severns is known for her defensive prowess and ability to handle pitchers as Ashland University's top catcher.

But she’s also making a name for herself as a timely hitter, as her bases-clearing double in the left-center gap in the seventh inning gave AU a 7-6 walk-off win over Tiffin University Saturday at Deb Miller Field at the Archer Ballpark Complex in Great Midwest Athletic Conference action.

Tiffin earned a split on the day by taking a 12-4 win over AU in the second game. AU is now 12-10 in GMAC play and 20-26 overall with Tiffin at 13-11, 21-24, respectively.

AU’s first-game win keeps it in contention to land a spot in the GMAC tournament which begins Wednesday in Findlay. All AU needs to do to get in is earn a split against Malone on Sunday.

The Eagles trailed 6-1 entering the last inning in the first game but AU rallied with four straight singles by Danielle Robbins, Lauren McMillan, Hailey Struckman (RBI) and Amanda Kolar before Lily Rockwell coaxed a bases-loaded walk to drive in a run, then Maddy Burdette loaded the bases again with an RBI-single, cutting Tiffin’s lead to 6-4.

Severns, a junior, then rifled a double to the left-center gap for her bases-clearing walk-off hit.

“I don’t think I’ve hit a walk-off before, and it was like the best feeling ever,” Severns offered with a big smile. “We keep it exciting, that's for sure. I think this team is just, a lot of teams don’t expect it but we just come out and surprise them.”

AU coach Emlyn Knerem reflected on Severns’ game-winning hit.

“I can’t even tell you what happened in the inning because I was just kind of out of it but it was huge for her to hit that gap-shot, and we had good baserunners on too that we were able to take three bases on that kind of it,” she said. “I think we all said, oh, we just won the game.

“We put the ball in play, we had some really good at-bats there, a walk in that inning, just got runners on base to put us in a position to get that win.”

Severns wasn't the only star for the Eagles in the first game as freshman Mady Hannahs threw the final four innings in relief of Kayla Ruperto, who was touched up for five runs (3 earned) on nine hits with four strikeouts.

Hannahs gave up just one run on three hits with one walk and one strikeout to earn the win in the circle.

“I just came in and did what I had to do,and just took care of business,” Hannahs said. “I try to throw the least amount of pitches as possible.”

Hannahs also complimented Severns for the work she does behind the plate.

“Jordyn did really well today, and she always does,” Hannahs lauded. “She knows when I get out of my groove and she knows what to throw when I do that, and it brings me back in, which is really nice.”

Knerem said Hannahs gave AU a lift in relief.

“She did a really good job and that is exactly what we needed her to do. We needed her to come in and just get outs,” Knerem said. “And she did a really good job of that. Our defense kind of cleaned it up there as well, and our offense came up clutch for us so that was huge for her.”

“I think she did great,” Severns said of Hannahs performance. “She has a different speed than the rest of them, her change-up is really effective. She did really well.”

AU had four errors in the first game, and Knerem said it was addressed.

“Today was an uncharacteristic day for us defensively, typically our defense has been our strong suit,” Knerem said. “It’s been a mentally tough week for us. It’s been the last week of classes, we have a lot of girls who are really stressed about finals coming up, and the uncertainty of the conference tournament is weighing on everyone’s minds. It’s been a lot for them, so I think we just weren’t locked in today as we have been, but we talked about using (Sunday) and getting locked in and coming back stronger.”

Burdette had three singles in the first game, and Robbins and Struckman each tagged two singles.

Isabella St. Peter stuffed the loss for Tiffin, yielding one run on two hits in relief of Claire Feldkamp who went 6⅓ innings, relinquishing six earned runs on nine hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

Maci Head homered and doubled for the Dragons with Molly Koesters also slugging a two-run homer, and Aubrie Harper singling four times.

In the second game, Feldkamp (3 runs, 5 hits, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts) tossed the final five innings in relief of St. Peter (1 run, 4 hits).

Cassidy Shaffer suffered the loss for AU, going 2 ⅓ frames, yielding six runs (4 earned) on five hits with a pair of whiffs. Delaney Lis tossed two innings, giving up four runs on six hits with five strikeouts. Karis Weirich finished up, going 2⅔ frames, relinquishing two runs on four hits with a pair of strikeouts.

Robbins drove in a pair of runs and had three singles, with Shaffer and Severns each adding a pair of singles, and McMIllan adding an RBI-single.

“We’re excited for (Sunday), we just need to play like we know how, and just relax,” Severns said. “And get up in the first inning and don’t get down.”

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: College Softball: Ashland U splits with Tiffin