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The Tiffin University Dragons (26-15) used their bats to pick up wins against Malone and Walsh, staying alive to advance to the consolation quarterfinals at the GMAC Tournament.
Game One, TU 7, Malone 1:
After a scoreless first inning for both teams, Tim Orr was walked to lead off, and Kyle Vance singled to right field, putting runners on first and second. Thomas Auth hit a three-run homer to right field to give the Dragons a 3-0 lead.
Tiffin added two more in the third as Jake Shier was hit by pitch to lead off, then Marino Pugnetti reached on a throwing error by the pitcher on a bunt. Orr reached on a fielder's choice by the first baseman attempting to throw out Shier who scored. The next batter Kyle Vance singled through the left side to score Pugnetti from third to lead 5-0 through three.
The Pioneers got on the board in the top of the fourth, scoring one run on two hits and leaving one on base.
In the fifth, the first two batters got on base and advanced on a wild pitch to force a pitching change. Kyle Vance hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Griffin Stevens to increase their lead to 6-1.
Tiffin added one more run in the sixth as Danny Donnelly singled to right field to lead off the inning. Shier reached on a fielder's choice that got a force out at second base. Shier stole second before Pugnetti singled to right field, putting runners on the corners. Griffin Stevens singled through the left side to score Shier and give the Dragons a 7-1 lead.
Michael Boswell was on fire on the mound, pitching 9.0 innings, allowing one earned run on five hits, and striking out 10.
Kyle Vance led the offense, going 2-for-4, scored one run, and had two RBI, Thomas Auth went 1-for-3, hitting a three-run homer to left field, and Marino Pugnetti went 2-for-3 and scored one run in the win.
Game Two, TU 9, Walsh 6:
Jake Shier led off the top of the first with a double and advanced to third on an error by the center fielder. Pugnetti hit an RBI single to center field to bring home Shier to lead 1-0. Auth singled to center field to advance Pugnetti to third, while Kyle Vance hit a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Pugnetti from third to lead 2-0.
The Cavaliers answered in the bottom of the inning with a run of their own to bring the score to 2-1.
Shier started off the inning against with a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Pugnetti reached on an error by the second baseman to put runners on the corners. Griffin Stevens hit a sacrifice fly ball to right field to score Shier from third to lead 3-1. Walsh matched the run with a homer to right center.
The Dragons caught fire in the fifth, scoring three runs as Zach Campbell doubled to left center to lead off. Two batters later Stevens singled to the short stop to score Campbell, followed by two consecutive doubles by Auth and Vance to score to lead Walsh 6-2.
Walsh answered in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs on four hits to cut the Dragons lead to 6-4. The Cavaliers then scored two more in the bottom of the sixth on two hits to tie the game at 6-6.
The Dragons' hitting came up clutch in the ninth. Zach Campbell walked and advanced to second on a passed ball. Pugnetti singled to center field to score Campbell, then Walsh intentionally walked Auth to bring Vance to the plate, who hit a double to right field to score Pugnetti and Thamann to take a 9-6 lead. Tiffin still needed to get the last three outs and with runners on first and second from a hit by pitch and walk, three Cavaliers flied out to end the game and advance Tiffin to the consolation quarterfinals.
Kyle Vance did well at the plate, going 2-for-4 with four RBI and two key RBI in the ninth inning to increase their lead. Pugnetti went 2-for-4, scored two runs, and had two RBI.
Robert Guerrero III got his second win of the season as he pitched 2.2 innings with one strikeout but was able to grab the win with help from the defense to win 9-6.
TU will now take on Kentucky Wesleyan at 1:30 pm May 14.