AU wins two and remains in GLIAC title contention
SAULT STE. MARIE - Ashland remained in contention for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season softball title by beating Lake Superior State 7-2 and 4-0 Saturday during a rain-soaked home opener for the Lakers.
Ashland (30-10 overall, 18-4 GLIAC) is tied with Saginaw Valley State and Ferris State heading into Sunday's double-header at Northwood. SVSU heads to fifth-place Grand Valley State, while FSU takes on fourth-place Wayne State on Sunday.
The Lakers (6-39 overall, 0-22 GLIAC) close out their season at noon Sunday against Tiffin. The games will be played at Kaunisto Field.
Ashland scored two runs in the sixth inning and three in the seventh to pull away from a 2-1 lead during Game 1. The Eagles out-hit LSSU, 10-3, including a two-run homer by Alyssa Kelley in the first inning.
Lorrie Chaperon, Nichole Dunford and Rachel Hall had hits for the Lakers. Laker pitcher Nikki Christenen totaled two strikeouts and three walks, and four runs were earned.
LSSU freshman pitcher Jillian Willette had a one-hit shutout going in Game 2 until Ashland scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. She totaled two walks and one strikeout while giving up six hits.
Chaperon was 2-for-3 to lead the Lakers at the plate. Nicole Carstensen had LSSU's other hit during the nightcap.
