The Tiffin University baseball team saw their lead dissipate in the middle innings in their matchup with the nationally ranked University of Indianapolis Greyhounds on Friday afternoon. A five run bottom of the 5th proved too much for the Dragons to overcome as they fell 7-5.
Tiffin wasted little time at the plate, using an Alec McCurry single, Kyle Lento walk, and a Jack Dennis hit by pitch to load the bases with one out. John Heckman brought home the first run of the afternoon for Tiffin, pushing McCurry to the plate with a sacrificec fly to center field.
In the top of the 3rd, the Dragons added another run, using a hit and an error to do so. Brayden Callihan reached on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Jack Dennis singled back up the box to plate Callihan and push Tiffin out to a 2-0 lead.
Indianapolis plated their first run of the afternoon in the bottom half of the 4th. The Dragons were oportunistic in the top of the 5th, scoring two more runs with two outs on a pair of hits and two errors. Alec McCurry started the frame with a single, and was in danger of being stranded as the next two hitters recorded outs. A fielding error enabled John Heckman to reach base and allowed McCurry to score to make it 3-1. An infield single by Ryan Thomas put runners at the corners. Thomas then swiped second base, and the errant throw from the Greyhounds' catcher made it easy for Heckman to walk on home and make it 4-1.
The bottom half of the 5th was a disaster for Tiffin, as two cracks of the bat scored five runs for Indianapolis. A two run double and a three run homer allowed the Greyhounds to lead 6-5.
The Dragons gave it their best in the 8th, using a Callihan hit by pitch and McCurry single to put two on with one out. Kyle Lento chased home the Dragons' 5th run of the game with a bouncer through the left side of the infield to pull Tiffin within a run at 6-5.
The Greyhounds found some insurance in their half of the 8th, plating a single run on a hit by pitch and an error to extend their lead to 7-5.
In the end, Michael Boswell took the loss on the mound for Tiffin. Boswell tossed 6 2/3rd innings, allowing six earned runs while striking out five. At the plate, Alec McCurry led the way for Tiffin with a 3 for 4 performance with two runs scored. Zach Campbell, Ryan Thomas, and Jack Dennis all finished with a pair of hits.
The Dragons fall to 5-7 overall and will be back in action tomorrow in a nine inning game against the Greyhounds.