Dragons secure playoff berth with split at Ashland

Aubrie Harper had a huge series against the Eagles.
Aubrie Harper had a huge series against the Eagles.

Tiffin University (21-24, 13-11 G-MAC) had a big offensive game to finish its doubleheader at Ashland, leading to a split and securing a G-MAC Tournament berth in the process.

The Dragons won the finale 12-4 while falling dramatically in the opener 7-6.

In the victory, TU scored in five of the seven innings. In the second inning, Tara Gall doubled while Maddie Woods reached on an error in left field. After both advanced on a wild pitch, one run came home on a sacrifice fly while Michelle Rodkey brought in another run with a groundout to second base.

In the third, TU exploded for five runs. Bailey Hamilton bunted for a single and came home on Maci Head's double. Molly Koesters then singled, with Gall driving in another run with a single. After the runners advanced on another wild pitch, Woods delivered an two-RBI double, with Aubrie Harper following with another RBI single to put TU ahead 7-1.

TU added more runs in the fourth, fifth, and seventh. In the fourth, Head singled and Gall drove her home with a double. In the fifth, Michelle Rodkey singled and came home on Katie Deardorff's two-run home run. Finally, in the seventh, Harper singled and came home on Rodkey's double. Libby Schaadt got the last run across with a sacrifice fly.

Claire Feldkamp got the win in relief, tossing the final 5 innings and allowing 3 earned runs. Isabella St. Peter opened with two innings, allowing one run on four hits.

Gall finished with 4 hits including 2 doubles, while Harper and Rodkey also had two hits. 

In game one, TU held a big 6-1 lead heading to the final inning but allowed 6 runs with one out to lose in walk-off fashion. 

Feldkamp tossed the first 6.1 innings, allowing 6 earned runs. St. Peter took the loss, not recording an out in relief and allowing one earned run on two hits.

In the first inning, Taylor Whalen reached on an error at shortstop and came home on Head's double. Koesters then drilled a two-run home run. Harper continued the inning with a single and moved up on an error in right field. A wild pitch let another run score as TU jumped out to a 4-0 lead.

In the third, Gall singled and came home on Woods's double.

Head smacked a home run in the top of the seventh to give TU its 6-1 lead but it wasn't enough as Ashland rallied for the win.