Dragons fall in opener with Walsh 9-8

Cal Brazier had 5 RBI in the 9-8 loss at Walsh.
Cal Brazier had 5 RBI in the 9-8 loss at Walsh.

Tiffin University (8-9) lost on a walk-off home run by Walsh in the bottom of the 9th to fall 9-8 in the opening game of a doubleheader.

The second game was halted due to darkness in the top of the 8th inning with the score tied 4-4.

In the opener, the Dragons jumped out to an early lead but were unable to hold the lead late in the game.

In the first inning, Ty Hatfield walked while Griffin Stevens and Tim Orr singled to load the bases. Cal Brazier then drilled a grand slam home run to give TU a 4-0 lead.

In the third, Stevens singled and an error by the pitcher moved him to second. Brazier then got his 5th RBI with a single.

TU added more runs in the fifth inning as Brazier walked and Ben Bach slammed a two-run home run to put TU up 7-2.

TU tacked on another run in the 8th inning. Leading 7-5, Hilario DeLaPaz was hit by a pitch and pinch runner Dawson Groch advanced to second on a passed ball. Stevens then singled him home.

The Dragons, however, gave up three runs in the bottom of the 8th to tie the score and send it to the 9th inning where, with one out, the Cavaliers ended it with a solo home run.

Gunnar Boehm took the loss with one inning of relief. Kyler Archual started and went 4 innings, allowing 4 earned runs. Mat Carden followed with 3 innings and just one earned run allowed. Zach Johnson struggled in his relief appearance, however, lasting just 0.1 innings and allowing 3 earned runs before Boehm's appearance.

Overall Brazier had 2 hits with a home run for 5 RBI while Bach also had 2 hits, a home run, and 2 RBI. Stevens totaled 3 hits and Aidan Grabowski had 2 hits, as the two teams combined for 25 total hits in the first game.