TIFFIN, Ohio – Tiffin softball picked up a pair of wins over conference foe Malone on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Pioneers 5-2 and 12-5.
With the sweep, the Dragons improve to 9-5 in the GMAC and 17-12 overall.
Game one started as a pitcher's duel, with Tiffin starter Sarah Klein and Malone starter Kelsey Byers putting up matching zeros on the scoreboard through three innings.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Heidi Marshall walked to put a runner on for Kaylee Savage, who belted a double off the wall in center that scored Marshall all the way from first and gave the Dragons a 1-0 lead.
Tiffin added four runs in the bottom of the sixth, starting with Kirsten Georges scoring from third on an Abbey Zedaker bunt. Brooke Lambert had the big hit of the inning, blasting a two-out, two-RBI double to the wall in left-center. For the fourth run, Lambert was able to score from third when the Pioneer catcher tried to pick Jamie Sevenish off from second and the throw went into center field.
Malone picked up two unearned runs without a hit after three Dragon errors in the top of the seventh, but Tiffin held on for the 5-2 victory.
Klein got the win and improved to 10-6 on the year, going seven strong innings and allowing just four hits while striking out two. Lambert had a great game at the plate, going 3-4 with a run scored and two RBI, while Sevenish also added three hits.
Game two saw many more runs cross the board, starting with Malone putting one up in the top of the first. Tiffin answered back immediately in the bottom of the frame as Hayley Kobie knocked a two-run double to give TU the lead.
The Pioneers responded with four in the second to take a 5-2 advantage, but the Dragon offense was just getting started. In the bottom of the third, Tiffin tallied six runs on seven hits, including another RBI double for Kobie as TU took an 8-5 lead.
Tiffin would tack on three more in the fourth and another in the fifth as they took the seven-run win.
Kobie and Libby Crow were both a perfect 4-4 in game two, with Kobie notching three RBI and Crow one along with three runs scored. Victoria Edwards got the win on the mound, going the distance and allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts.
The Dragons will turn around and play two more conference games at home tomorrow against Walsh.