Dragons Earn Hard-Fought Split With Lakers

The Dragons have now won 22 games this season, splitting their two game set with Grand Valley State on Sunday afternoon.
The Dragons have now won 22 games this season, splitting their two game set with Grand Valley State on Sunday afternoon.

The Tiffin University softball team defeated the Grand Valley State in game two of their twin bill on Sunday afternoon 5-4. It is only the second loss for the Lakers in their last 25 games.

The Dragons were boat raced in game one, surrendering 11 runs on 12 hits in a 11-2 defeat. Offensively the Dragons scored a pair of runs on four hits. 

In the second game the Dragons rebounded nicely, taking an early 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning. An error and a sacrifice bunt enabled Tiffin to place a runner at third base with one out. Brooke Lambert brought that run home with a ground ball that pinch runner Amanda Rock beat the throw home to give Tiffin a one run advantage.

The Lakers answered the next half inning, tying the score at 1-1. In the 6th the Lakers went back to work with the sticks, rolling home two more runs to lead the Dragons 3-1. 

It looked grim for Tiffin headed to the top of the 7th, but the Dragons were unscathed. After a lead off single to start the frame, the Lakers retired back-to-back hitters to put Tiffin up against it as they were down to their final out. Brooke Lambert then singled to put runners at the corners, and Libby Crow pulled Tiffin to within a run with a single to left field. Sierra Besser-Paul loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch, and Hayley Kobie tied the game with a walk. The Lakers' defensive miscues came back to bite them as an error allowed two Dragons to stroll home to give Tiffin a 5-3 lead.

The last half inning of the game was anything but easy for the Dragons. With two outs and a runner in scoring position, the Lakers launched a double to center field to make it 5-4 Tiffin. TU starting pitcher Tiffany Snell stood strong on the hill for Tiffin, inducing a fly ball to center field for the final out and the 22nd win of the season for the Dragons. 

Snell finished what she started on the mound, scattering nine hits while allowing four earned runs. At the plate, the combination of Brooke Lambert and Libby Crow accounted for four hits, two runs and a pair of runs batted in. Haylie Kobie produced one of the more dramatic at bats in the game, walking to tie the game, her second base on balls of the day. 

Tiffin is now 22-19 overall and 10-8 in the GLIAC.