The top-ranked Moccasins enjoyed another big offensive night Wednesday, collecting 14 hits and beating No. 23 Ashland 10-3 at Henley Field.
Ashland scored first on a three-run homer by Jason Cress in the first inning off Moccasin starter Jake Guengerich, but the Eagles' lead didn't last long, as the Moccasins came right back with three in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Kelvin Clark tripled home Colin Kaline, who had singled. Wade Kirkland's sacrifice fly brought Clark home and Tyler Benzel capped the inning with his first home run of the season.
The score remained tied until the Moccasins broke through with three in the fifth on an RBI-single by Trae Gore, an RBI-double by Kirkland and an RBI-single by Benzel.
Guengerich (1-0), after the first inning, allowed just two singles in the third and struck out a career-high eight before departing with two outs in the seventh. Ryan Wolfe recorded the final out in the seventh and worked a perfect eighth. Daniel Tillman needed just 10 pitches to strike out the side in the ninth.
Gore had three hits for the second straight night and drove in two runs. Colin Kaline, Kirkland, Benzel and Andrew Grutka each had two hits.
The Moccasins, now 18-2, will play a three-game series at Valdosta State Friday and Saturday. Friday night's game starts at 6 p.m., with Saturday's doubleheader set for 1 p.m.
