It was a busy day for the Tiffin University baseball program, playing two games against the Ohio Dominican Panthers, and honoring the 11 seniors for their hardwork and dedication to the program.
Game One
The first game of the set was a slugfest, with the Panthers scoring two runs in the top of the 1st inning. Their lead grew in the top of the 2nd, plating four more runs to lead 6-0.
The Dragons scored their first run in the bottom of the 2nd, using back to back singles from Kyle Durham and Isaac Perry to setup the scoring opportunity. Senior Andrew Hohman picked up a run batted in with a fielder's choice to get the Dragons on the board.
In the 3rd inning, Tiffin made noise once more, scoring five more runs to tie the score. Hohman picked up another RBI with an infield single to make it 6-2. Kurt Barbeau then singled home two runs with a line drive to left field to make it 6-4. The tying runs came off the bat of Kyle Lento, hooking a single to left field to score two more runners and pull the teams even.
The lead didn't last long, as the Panthers responded with four runs the next half inning to regain control at 10-6.
Tiffin busted out in the bottom of the 4th, plating seven runs on one hit and six walks. The frame opened with five straight walks to plate two runs. After an out was recorded, a walk to Kurt Barbeau brought home another run to pull Tiffin within a run at 10-9. A Kyle Lento sacrifice fly tied the game at 10-10, and then Jay Smith kicked in the door on Ohio Dominican. Smith launched a deep drive to right center field that cleared the wall for a three run jack, giving Tiffin a 13-10 lead.
Stability entered the game in the 5th inning, in the form of Luke Fraley. The right-hander allowed one hit over three innings of work, earning his first save of the season.
Marc Deitsch earned the win on the mound, his second of the year. At the plate, Jay Smith finished 2 for 5 with three runs batted in and a run scored. Isaac Perry finished 2 for 3 with a run batted in and three runs scored. Barbeau and Lento set the table and cleaned it, both finishing with three runs batted in.
Game Two
In game two, the Panthers got a bit of revenge, jumping out to a 7-0 lead after two innings of play.
After increasing their lead to 8-0, the Panthers surrendered their first run to the Dragons in the bottom half of the 4th. Isaac Perry doubled to the left center field gap to get the Dragons on the board at 8-1.
Panther home runs in the 5th and 7th made it 10-1 headed to the bottom half of the 7th. Kyle Lento singled home another Tiffin run in the 7th, making it 10-2 Ohio Dominican. The Panthers added to their lead in the 8th, pushing their advantage to 11-2.
In the bottom of the 8th, Tiffin scored five runs to put pressure on the Panthers. Brayden Callihan and Kurt Barbeau both had singles that plated two runs each. Kyle Lento knocked in the final run of the 8th, rolling a double down the left field line to make it 11-7.
The Panthers added two insurance runs in the 9th, and held the Dragons off the board in the last of the 9th to preserve a 13-7 win.
Offensively, Tiffin was paced by Kyle Lento and Isaac Perry, both collecting three hits. Lento, Kurt Barbeau, and Brayden Callihan each finished with two runs batted in.
The Dragons now sit 29-20 overall and 21-11 in GLIAC play. The Dragons finished 3rd in the GLIAC, and will be back in action this coming Thursday against the Walsh Cavaliers in the GLIAC Tournament.