Dragons sweep Cardinals with the best of both worlds

Dragons sweep Cardinals with the best of both worlds

The Tiffin University baseball team swept the Wheeling Jesuit University Cardinals on Monday afternoon, using a solid pitching performance in game one to win 3-2, and then bashing their way to a 10-8 game two victory.

Game One

Luke Fraley was tasked with taking care of the Cardinals from the mound. Fraley was impeccable, especially early in the game, allowing only three hits through four innings of work. The Tiffin offense started slow, unable to cross the plate until the 5th inning. In the 5th, Tiffin plated all three of their runs on four hits and an error. With two aboard, Isaac Perry singled to left field to score a pair of runners. After stealing second base, Perry scored on the Cardinals' error to put Tiffin up 3-0.

Fraley kept on rolling on the hill, heading to the 7th inning in search of a complete game. With two down and two Cardinals on base, a Tiffin error allowed Wheeling Jesuit to plate their first run of the game, and ultimately ended Fraley's hope for a complete game. Kevin Borst was summoned from the bullpen, and made light work of the Cardinals' final batter, posting a strikeout for the 21st out of the game.

Fraley earned the victory, hurling 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs, no earned runs, six hits, and struck out six. At the plate, the Dragons collected nine hits as a team. Nick Whetnallfinished 3 for 3 with a run scored, Luke Brust logged a pair of hits and scored a run, and Isaac Perry added a pair of runs batted in.

Game Two

In the nightcap, Tiffin had to rely on their bats to earn their first sweep of the season.

Brady Ward was given the start on the mound, and was handed a 1-0 lead after Kurt Barbeau scored on a wild pitch in the top of the 1st. Ward was shaky in the bottom half of the inning, allowing three runs on three hits, and a Tiffin error that cost the Dragons a run.

Trailing for the first time all day, Tiffin brought out the bats in the 2nd inning. The Dragons plated four runs on one hit and an error. Three straight bases on balls allowed Tiffin to load the bases. With one out, Fernando Nieto stepped to the plate and delivered a ringing triple to left field to score three runs and give Tiffin a 5-3 lead.

The Cardinals got a run closer in the 3rd, and took back the lead with a four run outburst in the 5th inning to lead 8-5. Kurt Barbeau's RBI single in the top of the 6th made it 8-6. After Wheeling Jesuit was held scoreless in their half of the 6th, Tiffin had one final go of it at the plate.

The Dragons made good on their last chance, plating four runs on four hits. The two biggest at bats in the inning came from Brayden Callihan and Alec McCurry. With a pair of Dragons aboard, Callihan hammered a double to left field, scoring both runners. Alec McCurry kept the line moving with a pinch hit double to score Callihan, and give Tiffin a 10-8 lead.

Kevin Borst was called upon to slam the door in the bottom of the 7th. Borst struck out the side to record his second save of the day.

On the mound, Nate Brunty earned the victory in relief, tossing 1 1/3 innings. Offensively, Kurt Barbeau racked up two hits and two RBI's, Brayden Callihan finished with two runs scored and a pair of runs batted in, and Fernando Nieto collected two hits and three runs batted in.

The Dragons now sit 4-4 overall and will continue their string of games tomorrow against Gannon University.