Tiffin Splits With Lakers

Kurt Barbeau was 4 for 8 with four runs batted in and three runs scored before the game was suspended.
Kurt Barbeau was 4 for 8 with four runs batted in and three runs scored before the game was suspended.

The Tiffin University baseball team split in their opening games against the Grand Valley State Lakers, winning game one 6-4, while the Lakers brought out the bats to defeat Tiffin 15-4 in the game two.

Game One

The Lakers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st, scoring a run on two hits off Tiffin starter Luke Fraley. That lead lasted for four more innings, as the Dragons bats came to life in the 5th inning. Tiffin plated four runs on three hits to take a 4-1 lead. After an out was recorded, Ryan Thomas was hit by a pitch, and Kyle Lento single to put two aboard. Kyle Durham walked to load the bases, and Brayden Callihan rifled a single down the left field line to plate two runners. Kurt Barbeau came to the plate next, doubling off the Lakers reliever to score two more runs.

Two runs in the bottom of the 6th inning pulled Grand Valley State within a run at 4-3. Tiffin added two very important insurance runs in their half of the 7th. Callihan began the frame with a walk, and advanced to third on Barbeau's second double of the game. Jay Smith pushed Callihan home with a double to right field to give Tiffin a 5-3 lead. Alec McCurry got in on the double trend, finding the gap to score the sixth run of the game for Tiffin.

In the bottom of the 7th, Kevin Borst took to the hill in search of his 8th save of the season. After allowing a leadoff solo home run, Borst collected himself and ended the game with a 4-6-3 double play to secure a 6-4 win.

On the mound, Luke Fraley earned the win, tossing five innings of eight hit, three run baseball while striking out seven. Offensively, Kurt Barbeau led Tiffin with a 2 for 4 performance with a double and two runs batted in.

Game Two

The Dragons' offense kept the heat on the Lakers at the start of the second game, plating two runs to lead 2-0. Jay Smith walked after the first two Tiffin hitters were retired in the 1st inning. Alec McCurry singled to keep the inning alive, and Devon Fisk sliced a single to left field to give Tiffin a 1-0 lead. McCurry showed his wheels, stealing home to give the Dragons a 2-0 lead. 

Grand Valley scored a run in the bottom of the 1st, and scored six more runs in the 3rd to take a 7-2 lead. The flood gates opened in the 5th and 6th innings, as Grand Valley State scored eight runs between the 5th and 6th innings to lead 15-4. Tiffin mustered only seven hits in the game, while the Lakers banged out 19 hits. 

Tiffin moves to 13-13 overall and 6-4 in GLIAC play.