Jimmy Merling's double drove in Corey Pavlich for the the go-ahead run with one out in the 12th. Merling then scored an insurance run on Travis Bartlett's single.

 

Winning pitcher Ben Grams (3-0 W-L, 0.60 ERA) worked four innings in relief of starter Jake Lewis. Grams allowed one run on two hits and one walk. He had four strikeouts. Lewis worked the first eight innings and allowed one run on seven hits and no walks with four strikeouts.

 

Grams blew a save opportunity in the ninth when the Merchants' Matt Tarasewicz hit a two-out RBI single which scored pinch runner Jordan Pierce. Pierce's run tied the score at 2-2.

 

Bobby Tyndall was the hard-luck losing pitcher. Tyndall pitched 11 innings and allowed three runs on 13 hits and two walks. Tyndall, who had eight strikeouts, was replaced by Eric Yachinich after surrendering Pavlich's single to lead off the 12th. Yachinich allowed one run on two hits in one inning.

 

Merling was 4-for-6 with a double, a triple, three runs, and one RBI. Bartlett was 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Jon Soto was 3-for-5, and Chad Beiswenger and Kevin Hendrickx had two hits apiece for the Dukes.

 

Tyndall, Tarasewicz, and Frank Pufall had two hits apiece for Ashland.

 

The Dukes are now 5-0 in the Upper 13 League (7-3 overall). Ashland falls to 2-2 in league play.