Written by Michael Thervil

[2026 Astros Foundation Winter Invitational Arkansas Tech University Ashland University] The first match-up of the 2026 Astros Foundation Winter Invitational between Arkansas Tech University (Wonder Boys) and the Ashland University Eagles ended with Ashland University Eagles defeating Arkansas Tech University 9-6. Although the weather was and still is cold due to the arctic blast that is still moving through Houston, Texas, both teams played exceptionally well on the field. With the game starting at 10:02am am, the first runs would not be scored until the second inning, with both teams closing the first inning 1-1.

The tie between the two teams broke at the second half of the second inning with Arkansas Tech University scoring three runs, then another run at the bottom of the fourth inning. Neither team scored during the fifth and sixth innings. It would be at the bottom of the seventh inning that Arkansas tech would break the dry spell of scoring and earn a run. From the perspective of the crowd, it seemed as if the fate of Ashland was sealed until they scored a whopping four runs in both the eighth and ninth innings, thus securing victory. The one thing about Americans is that they love a comeback and the Ashland University Eagles demonstrated that comebacks will never fall out of style.