TIFFIN, Ohio - Senior Ryan Williams had three hits and drove in four runs as the Tiffin University baseball team (19-27, 13-17 GLIAC) split with Wayne State (30-14, 20-8 GLIAC), Wednesday afternoon at Heminger Field. TU won the first 5-4 and lost the second 11-5. The Dragons are in the sixth and final playoff spot heading into the last weekend of the season.
Game one was a pitching duel until the bottom of the third inning. Tiffin used five hits and an error to score five runs. Wayne State chipped away with three in the fourth and one in the fifth.
In the sixth inning, the Warriors had runners at second and third with one out. Sophomore Nick Hueneburg made a great catch at third for the second out. Following a hit batter, the Dragons got a fielder's choice to escape. In the seventh with two outs, senior KC Weber threw a runner out at second to end the game.
For Tiffin, Williams and senior Colin Sallee had two hits each. Freshman Logan Sendlebach (2-1) gave up six hits, four runs, three earned, walked three and struck out one in 5.1 innings. Senior David Blalock (1) walked one in 1.1 innings for the save.
For Wayne State, Kenny Davis and Kasey Koster had two hits each. Jimmy Jackson (1-2) gave up seven hits, five runs, two earned, walked one and struck out five in four innings.
In the nightcap, WSU had a 6-1 lead after four and things were starting to look grim. In the fifth inning, senior Roger Christensen reached on an error and moved to second on a single by Weber. Senior Tayler Glass walked to load the bases.
Williams singled through the left side to move Glass to second and score Christensen and Weber. A walk to sophomore Nick Calandra loaded the bases. Two sacrifice fly's scored Glass and Williams. In the sixth, Wayne State scored five runs to seal the game.
For Tiffin, freshman Garrett Vernau had three hits and Williams drove in two runs. Senior Tyler Glass (1-2) gave up four hits, five runs and walked two.
For Wayne State, Koster had three hits and drove in three runs. Brandyn Hall (3-2) gave up seven hits, five runs, three earned and walked two in four innings.
Tiffin closes the regular season, May 4-5 at Saginaw Valley State. The doubleheader on the fourth is at 1:00 p.m. and the game on the fifth is at noon.
-TIFFIN UNIVERSITY-
