TIFFIN, Ohio - Currently sitting in sixth in the GMAC standings, Tiffin baseball will look to move up after this week as they host Findlay for a doubleheader on Wednesday and fifth-place Kentucky Wesleyan for four games over the weekend.
Game Information:
Tiffin Dragons (15-24, 12-10 GMAC) vs
Findlay Oilers (11-24, 5-17 GMAC)
Wednesday, April 24 | 2:00 p.m. (DH)
Tiffin, Ohio | Heminger Field
Video | Live Stats
Tiffin Dragons (15-24, 12-10 GMAC) vs
Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers (21-18, 15-9 GMAC)
Saturday, April 27 | 1:00 p.m. (DH)
Sunday, April 28 | 12:00 p.m. (DH)
Tiffin, Ohio | Heminger Field
Video (Saturday only) | Live Stats
Series History:
Tiffin and Findlay have met 37 times in baseball since TU joined the Division II ranks, and the Dragons hold a 23-14 advantage in the series. In their last meeting earlier this season, the Dragons and Oilers split a doubleheader on March 27 in TU's home opener. Findlay got a go-ahead homer in the top of the ninth inning from freshman Alex Foulks to take game one 4-3, before Tiffin erased three separate one-run deficits to take game two 6-5.
During the same time frame, Tiffin and Kentucky Wesleyan have faced off just six times, with the Panthers holding a 4-2 advantage in the series. TU and KWC last played on Feb. 26, 2017 in Winter Haven, Fla. as part of their spring break trip. The Dragons were held off the scoreboard in the contest, as Kentucky Wesleyan won 6-0.
Dragon Details:
TU remains one of the hottest teams in the GMAC, as they have won nine of their last 12 entering the week. The Dragons are currently two games back of KWC for fifth place in the conference, two and half back of Ohio Dominican and Walsh for third, and just three back of Trevecca Nazarene for the second slot.
Last weekend, Tiffin was able to take three of four from last-place Davis & Elkins, sweeping the doubleheader that was moved to West Virginia because of weather before coming home and splitting with the Senators on Sunday.
Zach Campbell continues to lead the team and rank in the top five in the conference with a .398 batting average on the year, and has also scored 24 runs and knocked a team-leading 16 doubles along with 24 RBI. Cody Orr has been consistent all year from the leadoff spot, coming into the week second on the team hitting .347 with 32 runs scored and three triples. John Heckman is the other Dragon hitting over .300 at .324 for the season, and had added 13 doubles, five home runs, and a team-leading 34 RBI.
Orr is also a big contributer on the mound, leading the team with 54.2 innings on the year and holding a 3-0 record in 10 starts. Tyler Wehrle had another impressive outing in a win over Davis & Elkins on Sunday, as the freshman improves to 3-5 on the year with a 4.80 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 45.0 innings.
Scouting the Oilers:
Findlay has struggled mightily lately, as they are just 1-12 in the month of April and have dropped five-straight entering Wednesday's games.
Tyler Archambeau has the top batting average on the team at .347, but splits time as a catcher and has only seen 49 at-bats on the season. Of players with over a 80 at-bats, Trevor Anderson leads the way with a .317 average, eight doubles, and 12 RBI. Nic Varda also hits .308, while leading the team with 17 RBI and 17 walks.
Tyler Kennedy has seen the most action on the mound with 41.1 innings and a 1-4 record and 5.66 ERA, but it is Hunter Weis who looks to be the ace of the staff with a 3.66 ERA, 3-2 record, and 35 strikeouts in 39.1 innings.
Scouting the Panthers:
Kentucky Wesleyan has been operating in the opposite fashion of Findlay recently, coming into the weekend winners of eight of their last nine. The Panthers are currently fifth in the GMAC at 15-9, two games ahead of the Dragons.
KWC's pitching has been impressive on the year, ranking third in the GMAC with a team ERA of 4.97. Devin Smith is the unquestioned ace of the staff, holding just a 1.99 ERA in 54.1 innings pitched with 66 strikeouts to just 13 walks. His six wins are tied for second in the conference and 66 K's are also second. Zach Burton has also thrown well, holding a 3.76 ERA in 52.2 innings with 39 strikeouts. Joey Lara does the dirty work out of the bullpen, appearing in 15 games in relief and sporting a 1.57 ERA in 23.0 innings with 24 strikouts and eight walks.
On the offensive side, Chase Andrews paces the Panthers with a .358 batting average, 32 runs scored, 15 doubles, six home runs, and 35 RBI. Brayden Sisson also has 35 RBI and hits .354 with 14 doubles and 22 walks. Lane Kennemore holds the other KWC batting average over .300 at .339 on the year, while Cam Curry provides more pop in the lineup with eight doubles, five home runs, and a team-leading 38 RBI.