TIFFIN, Ohio - Sophomore Alex Hartley had three hits and drove in four runs as the Tiffin University baseball team (5-20, 4-4 GLIAC) split with #18 Grand Valley State (16-6, 7-1), Monday at Heminger Field. TU won the first 7-4 and lost a nail biter 9-8 in the nightcap.
In the opener, Grand Valley State held a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, freshman Isaac Perry reached on an error. Freshman Kyle Durham doubled to left center field to score Perry and break up the no-hitter.
Freshman Devon Fisk doubled to right field to score Durham. Two errors and a walk to junior Nick Calandra scored a run and loaded the bases. Hartley singled to right center field to drive in two runs and move Calandra to third.
That tied the game at 4-4. When the inning was finally over, Tiffin had used a walk, four hits and four errors to score seven runs. The Lakers threatened in the seventh with bases loaded and two outs. Junior Garrett Scott got a strikeout for the win.
For Tiffin, Hartley drove in two runs while all but two of the starters would score. Scott (1-2) gave up three hits, three runs, walked two and struck out one in three innings. Sophomore Tyler Nichols had a strong start giving up two hits, one run which was unearned, walked two and struck out five in four innings.
For GVSU, Giancarlo Brugnoni and Kevin Zak each had a home run. Dan Saier (1-1) gave up one hit, four runs which were all unearned and walked one.
In the nightcap, GVSU exploded for eight hits and nine runs in the first three innings. The Dragons used three hits and an error to score four runs in the bottom of the third.
In the fifth inning, sophomores Jordan Widman and Garrett Vernau led off with singles. A fielder's choice forced Widman out and left Vernau at second and Calandra at first. Hartley singled to left center to load the bases.
Another fielder's choice scored Vernau and put Calandra and sophomore Kirk Olesick at the corners. Singles from freshman Kyle Lento and Perry scored Calandra and put Olesick at third. Following a pitching change, two wild pitches scored two more runs.
TU threatened in the sixth as Widman singled, stole second and moved to third on a fly out. Grand Valley State got a ground out and a strikeout to end the threat.
For Tiffin, Hartley, Vernau and Widman had two hits each while Hartley and Calandra drove in two runs. Freshman Patrick Bellinger (0-2) gave up five hits, seven runs, six earned, walked two and struck out one in 1.7 innings. Sophomore Mike Cooperider gave up four hits, two runs, one earned and struck out five in 5.3 innings.
For GVSU, Zak had two hits, a home run, scored two runs and drove in four runs. Adam Poel (1-0) gave up four hits, five runs, four earned, walked one and struck out three in four innings. Chris Ripple (6) gave up one hit, walked one and struck out two in 2.3 innings.
Tiffin remains home, Tuesday, April 1, taking on Grand Valley State. The game is scheduled to start at noon. Live stats are available at http://dragonweb.tiffin.edu/livestats/xlive.htm
-TIFFIN UNIVERSITY-
