Baseball is a funny game. One day you're losing 17-3, and the next you are sweeping the opposition with excellent starting pitching and timely hitting. That was the case for the Tiffin University baseball team on Saturday afternoon, sweeping a doubleheader by the count of 3-0 and 8-6.
Game One
Runs were at a premium on Saturday, as it felt like the game was played on the wide open plains due to the constant barrage of wind blowing in from right field. Nevertheless, Luke Fraley thrived in the wind swept environment, keeping the Cardinals grounded throughout the game. Fraley allowed only one hit through the first four innings, and his offense provided some support in the 3rd.
Kyle Vance led off the frame with a double, and advanced to third on a Cardinals' error. With one out, Brayden Callihan brought home the first run of the game with a ground out to the second baseman to give Tiffin a 1-0 lead.
In the 5th Tiffin scratched across another run, using a walk and a hit to do so. Zach Campbell walked with one out, and advanced to second on a ground out. Alec McCurry continued to swing a hot bat for Tiffin, singling home Campbell to give Tiffin a 2-0 advantage.
In the bottom half of the 6th, the Dragons took advantage of a Cardinals' error to plate their final run of the game. John Heckman hit a ball sky high behind home plate. The Cardinals' catcher dove to make the play for the second out of the frame. While all this was happening, Kyle Lento tagged up and was attempting the impossible, advancing a base on an infield pop up. Lento accomplished the improbable and then some, as the throw from the catcher bounced into left field and gave Tiffin a 3-0 lead.
The three runs were more than enough for Luke Fraley, tossing a complete game shutout while allowing only two hits, a walk, and punching out three.
The win for Fraley is his second this season. At the plate Tiffin was led by Alec McCurry, finishing 2 for 2 with a run batted in.
Game Two
The second game saw more offense and more defensive miscues. The two teams combined for 14 runs, 15 hits, and five errors in the contest. Of the Dragons' eight runs, only one was an earned run.
Tiffin starting pitcher Brady Ward was greeted rather rudely by the Cardinals, surrendering four runs in the opening frame. The Dragons responded with a pair of their own in the bottom of the 1st. A single and an error put two on with one out. Ryan Thomas delivered the first run of the game for Tiffin with a single to right field to make it 4-1. With the bases loaded, the Cardinals gifted Tiffin their second run of the game via a wild pitch to pull Tiffin within two at 4-2.
Saginaw Valley State got a run back in the 2nd, but after that were silenced in the 3rd and 4th. The Dragons finally found the big inning they'd been looking for the whole game in the 4th. A single, error, wild pitch, and walk loaded the bases for Tiffin. A single by McCurry made it 5-3, and a sacrifice fly by Kyle Lento pulled Tiffin within a run at 5-4. With two outs, John Heckman delivered a run scoring single to tie the score at 5-5. A wild pitch allowed Tiffin to move runners to second and third base with two outs in a tie game. Jack Dennis, having struck out his previous two trips to the plate, lined a single back up the box to score both runners and give Tiffin a 7-5 lead.
Saginaw Valley State got a run back in their half of the 5th, but that would be the last of it for the Cardinals. Tiffin's bullpen was lights out over the course of the final 2 2/3rd innings. The Dragons did push home an insurance run in the bottom of the 6th, taking advantage of two Cardinals' errors to hold an 8-6 lead.
The combination of Michael Ross and Deylen Miley were lethal to the Cardinals, with Miley earning his second save of the year with an inning of work.
The win on the mound pushes Ward's record to a perfect 3-0. Michael Ross had another solid outing from the bullpen, hurling 1 2/3rd innings in relief. The save for Miley was his second of the season.
At the plate the Dragons were led by Jack Dennis from a run production standpoint, driving in a pair with a single. As a team Tiffin collected only six hits, but were the recipients of five Saginaw Valley State errors, leading to six of their eight runs.
The Dragons improve to 8-9 overall and 2-1 in the GLIAC. Tiffin will look to take the final game of the season series tomorrow with a noon first pitch.