TIFFIN, Ohio – A five-run fifth proved to be the difference in game two as Tiffin baseball defeated Findlay 7-3 after falling to the Oilers 4-2 in game one.
The Dragons move to 13-11 in the GMAC and 16-25 overall after splitting the season series with the local rival Oilers.
TU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning of game one, as Jack Dennis singled home Cody Orr and Brayden Callihan scored on a wild pitch.
Tiffin starter Cody Orr kept the Oilers off the board through the first four innings, but Findlay was able to tack on two runs in the fifth and then a run apiece in the sixth and seventh to take a 4-2 lead.
On the mound for Findlay, Mark Delas settled into a groove after the first frame, only allowing two hits from the second through the sixth inning.
Down two in the bottom of the seventh, TU had the makings of a comeback started as Callihan led off with a walk and advanced to second on a Zach Campbell single. After two balls caught in the outfield, Kyle Vance walked to load the bases with two outs, but a strikeout ended the Dragon hopes as Findlay held on for the win.
The Dragons scored quickly again at the start of game two, as John Heckman knocked an RBI single through the left side for a 1-0 lead. Heckman added another RBI in the third, driving in Orr with a sacrifice fly to put Tiffin up by two.
TU starter Jake Monnin ran into a tough spot in the top of the fourth though, as Findlay tallied three runs on three hits and an error to take the lead.
Tiffin answered back with a fury in the bottom of the fifth, starting with Orr singling to shortstop and Callihan reaching on a fielder's choice. Campbell then tied things up with an RBI single, forcing out Oiler pitcher Anthony Kyle. New hurler Ryan Mohr did not fare much better for Findlay, as John Heckman stepped up next with a long RBI double to the wall in left to put TU up 4-3.
The Dragons added another run on a wild pitch, followed by Kyle Vance putting the cherry on top of a five-run inning with a two-run bomb to left.
The lead would last the rest of the game, as after entering in the fourth, Aaron George finished the game on the mound to earn the 7-3 win. George's final line read 5.1 innings, seven hits, no runs, and a strikeout, while also inducing inning-ending double play grounders in the seventh, eighth, and ninth frames.
Tiffin continues their homestand with four games this weekend against Kentucky Wesleyan.