The Tiffin University baseball team narrowly dropped their Saturday afternoon nine inning affair with the University of Indianapolis. The Dragons clawed back to within a run twice, but couldn't find the hit they desperately needed to tie or take the lead, falling 6-5.
Tiffin starter Luke Fraley knew he had a tough task ahead of him on Saturday, but he never wavered and went at the Greyhounds. After keeping the Hounds off the board in the 1st, Indianapolis broke through for a single run in the 2nd with a double and single to lead 1-0.
Tiffin responded a half inning later, using a Zach Campbell triple down the left field line, and a Brayden Callihan infield single to tie the score at 1-1. The tie was short-lived as the Greyhounds led off their half of the 3rd with a solo home run to lead 2-1. Indianapolis tacked on another run with a walk, sac bunt, and single to take a 3-1 lead.
Neither side dented the scoreboard in the 4th, but in the 5th the Greyhounds extended their lead to 4-1 with a double steal. An inning later the Greyhounds took advantage of a Tiffin miscue, scoring a run on a wild pitch to hold a 5-1 advantage.
After being held scoreless for three innings, Tiffin's offense awoke from their slumber and started to chip away at their deficit. With one out, Kyle Vance singled, Campbell followed with a walk, and Brayden Callihan received a free pass to load the bases. Alec McCurry, facing a new pitcher on the hill, didn't wait long to clear his plate. McCurry hooked a double down the left field line to score all three runners, and pull Tiffin to within a run at 5-4.
Tiffin's bullpen held Indianapolis off the board in the 7th, but with one out in the 8th the Greyhounds hammered an extremely important solo home run to lead 6-4.
The Dragons refused to go quietly, putting two runners on with one out in the 9th. McCurry stayed hot for Tiffin, stinging a single back up the box to plate a run and make it a one run deficit for Tiffin. Needing just one more ground ball with eyes to tie the score, Tiffin was denied by the Greyhounds' bullpen, dropping the Dragons 6-5.
On the mound, Luke Fraley took the loss for Tiffin, tossing 5 2/3rd innings while striking out eight. Alec McCurry was the offensive star for Tiffin, finishing 2 for 4 with four runs batted in. Youngster Zach Campbell had a nice game for Tiffin, going 2 for 3 with three runs scored.
The series will conclude on Sunday, with first pitch at high noon.