For Tiffin University's softball team, recently ranked fifth in the Midwest Region, the emphasis is on winning. Win big, win small, it doesn't really matter. Just keep winning.

Tiffin University (16-7, 7-1 GLIAC) provided both kinds of victories in their road trip to Lake Erie, streaking past the Storm in five innings 12-0 but then winning a narrow game in dramatic fashion 2-1 in eight innings.


TU (ranked 34th in the nation in the latest NFCA poll) tallied 9 runs in the third inning of the opener, providing more than a little insurance for starting pitcher Amber Young (3 innings, 2 hits) and reliever Kelly Mayer (2 innings, 1 hit).

TU banged out 14 hits in the game, led by Amanda Temple's 3 hits with a double for 2 RBIs. Lesy Herbert had 2 hits with a home run for 2 RBIs while Tiffany Smith also had 3 RBIs. Jessie Creakbaum added 2 hits, while Lauren Mazzuca had 2 RBIs with a double. Melodi Murrieta also drilled a solo shot.

In game two, Mindy Meredith went all 8 innings and allowed just one earned run on 5 hits while fanning 13 batters and walking none.

TU got its first run on a solo shot by Mazzuca, one of two hits in the game for her along with a double. Temple also had 2 hits with a double, but it was Meredith who for the second weekend in a row came to the plate to get the game-winning RBI for herself on the mound.

In the eighth inning, Mazzuca doubled with one out, bringing Meredith to the plate out of the flex position. She promptly delivered a double down the line to score Mazzuca and end the game.

TU now takes on Lake Erie once again on April 3 in two more GLIAC matchups.

Photo by Lisa Bobotas