TIFFIN, Ohio - The impending rain has changed the plans for Tiffin baseball this week, as they now travel to Davis & Elkins for a doubleheader today before returning home for the second doubleheader on Sunday.
Game Information:
Tiffin Dragons (12-23, 9-9 GMAC) vs
Davis & Elkins Senators (4-30, 4-14 GMAC)
Thursday, April 18 | 12:00 p.m. (DH)
Elkins, W.Va. | Harpertown Field
Sunday, April 21 | 12:00 p.m. (DH)
Tiffin, Ohio | Heminger Field
Live Stats
Series History:
Tiffin and Davis & Elkins have only met twice since the Dragons joined Division II, with TU taking both contests during the 2008 season by a combined score of 20-9.
Dragon Details:
Tiffin has had an uncommonly long break since their last game, not playing for over a week after hosting Malone on Apr. 10. Before that loss to the G-MAC leading Pioneers, the Dragons had been on a roll, winning six of their previous seven contests and taking a pair of 3-1 series victories over Hillsdale and Alderson Broaddus. Over those eight games, TU outscored their opponents 65-45, racking up over eight runs per game and an even 10 hits per game.
At 9-9 in conference play, Tiffin is currently seventh in the G-MAC standings and just two games out of jumping up to fourth. Six of their final 14 conference games are against the teams in last and second to last in the standings, while the other eight are four-game sets against the current fourth and fifth-place squads, giving plenty of opportunity to move up before the end of the regular season.
Zach Campbell continues to lead the Dragon offense, ranking fourth in the conference with a .390 batting average, second with 14 doubles, and tied for second with four sacrifice flies. The sophomore also has 22 runs scored, 23 RBI, and 15 walks to his credit. John Heckman has provided some pop from the plate, hitting .347 with 13 doubles (T-3rd in GMAC), 33 RBI (8th in GMAC), and five home runs. Cody Orr (.311 BA, 27 RS, 16 RBI, 3 triples, six-game hitting streak) and Nich Green (.302 BA, .488 OBP) are the other Dragons hitting above .300.
Orr has also completed the most innings (45.2) on the mound of any Dragon player, entering the weekend 2-0 on the year with a 6.90 ERA and 28 strikeouts over nine starts. Tyler Wehrle has the best ERA of the starting staff at 4.85, and is just behind Orr in innings with 39.0 and has the same number of strikeouts in nine appearances on the year. Jake Monnin leads the team with 30 strikeouts.
Scouting the Senators:
Davis & Elkins has encountered struggles for most of the season, entering the weekend with a 4-30 overall record and 4-14 mark in conference. Since taking two from Ohio Valley on Apr. 6, the Senators have dropped their last six contests. Davis & Elkins was able to surprise many across the G-MAC a week earlier, though, splitting a four-game set with then-conference leader Ohio Dominican for their first two victories of the season.
Chase DeGrood is the star of the Senator lineup, hitting .345 on the year with a .500 on-base percentage that ranks fifth in the GMAC. He also has 16 RS, four doubles, three home runs, 18 RBI, and 25 walks on the season. Christian Ortega is also hitting an even .300 with five doubles. On the mound, Brent McMillion is tied for sixth in the conference with 50 strikeouts while sporting an 8.70 ERA in 13 appearances and eight starts.