Tiffin (4-12, 1-1) and Ohio Dominican (4-8, 1-1 GLIAC) wrap up their four game series Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.
In game 1, Curtin evened his record at 2-2 for the season, allowing only five hits and one run while striking out five. Kyle Pilbeam took the loss in game two and falls to 0-3 in 2011.
For the day, Val Helldobler led TU with three hits in six at-bats with a pair of runs scored and an RBI. Cory Osborne added a single and double in six plate appearances with a double.
Felix Brown proved to be a tough out for the Panthers all day, going 3-for-4 with four runs scored and a trio of walks. Nick DiNello had two hits in five at-bats, including a double and a pair of RBI's. On the bump for ODU, Alex Borgan (1-3) took the complete loss in game one, giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits. In the second game, Erik Lamka threw the entire game and allowed three unearned runs on seven hits to improve his record to 1-2.
Stellar defense and timely hitting gave Tiffin a 3-1 win in game one. With two down and a runner on second in the bottom of the third, Osborne blooped a double that just stayed fair down the right field line that put TU on the board first in the game. ODU tied it on a single, stolen base and an RBI hit in the top of the fourth, but Curtin got out of further damage with a sacrifice bunt, a pop out and a fly out to right field.
Tiffin plated a pair in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good. With one out, Cory Hornyak and Helldobler singled to put men on the corners. Anthony Thomas then laid a perfect bunt down the first base line to reach base and score Hornyak. However, the ODU pitcher mishandled it to allow Helldobler to advance to third and later score when Michael Dushane hit into a fielder's choice.
ODU threatened in the sixth, but a couple of good defensive plays kept the Panthers at bay. With a runner on second and one out, Dushane made a diving catch in shallow center to save a run. The next Ohio Dominican batter grounded to third and the throw was high, but Chris Hall snatched the throw and laid the tag on the Panther runner at first for the third out of the inning.
In game two, both teams combined for 12 runs, three of which were earned. Ohio Dominican wasted no time, scoring three runs in the top of the first. A single, groundout, stolen base and a wild pitch gave the Panthers their first run of the game. Brown then walked and stole second and scored on a two-out throwing error by Tiffin. After a walk, Bryan Rudolph added a two-out, RBI single to give ODU the 3-0 lead.
A strange set of circumstances tied the ballgame at three in the bottom of the second. With one down and Curtin and Colin Lowe in scoring position, Helldobler singled to right center to plate TU's first run. However, the right fielder overthrew the cutoff man and Lowe came home. The pitcher for ODU grabbed the ball and overthrew trying to get Lowe at home and Helldobler continued running all the way home to tie the game.
However, ODU answered in the top of the third with a pair of unearned runs. Brown led off the inning for the Panthers and went to third on a dropped fly ball and later scored on a wild pitch. Three walks loaded the bases for Ohio Dominican before Nick DiNello added a two-out, RBI single pushed the visitor's edge to two. ODU added two in each of the fourth and seventh for the 9-3 win.
