After suffering two gut wrenching losses yesterday, the Tiffin University softball team came to the ball yard and made noise. The Dragons defeated 12th ranked Winona State 5-2, and then set their sights on 10th ranked West Chester University, defeating the Golden Rams 4-3.
In game one, the Dragons turned to Taylor Spang to hold Winona State off the scoreboard. She did just that, pitching 4 2/3 innings, allowing 5 hits, 2 runs, walked 3, and punched out 4. Spang held up her end of the bargain, now it was time for Tiffin to rattle the bats.
The offense came to life, scoring 2 runs in the 4th to take a 2-0 lead. The two runs were thanks to a Payton Denman double. Cassandra Brown chipped in with an RBI hit in the inning, and the Dragons were in front 3-0.
With Spang out of the game, Coach Jeff Nickerson turned to his bullpen to finish the job. Sarah Brown was the hurler called upon, as she came in and slammed the door on Winona State. Sarah threw 2 1/3 innings, giving up 1 hit, and striking out 4. Her offense added two more runs in the 7th thanks to defensive miscues by Winona State.
Taylor Spang picked up the win on the mound, and Sarah Brown notched the save. Offensively, Denman collected 2 RBIs on her 4th inning double, Cassandra Brown was 2 for 3 with an RBI, and Delaney Mixer was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
The next road block in Tiffin's way was West Chester University. The Golden Eagles entered the contest 9-3 and ranked 10th in the nation.
Kimmy Reynolds, coming off a brilliant performance from yesterday, climbed the hill for the start. She gave up an early run, but settled down and pitched 4 innings, surrendering 1 run on 4 hits, and struck out 4 Golden Eagles.
The Tiffin offense, trailing by a run, rallied in the 3rd, taking advantage of a West Chester error. The Dragons dented the plate three times in the inning to take a 3-1 lead. Michelle Poe was one of the contributors in the inning, slapping an RBI single into the outfield.
West Chester was held in check by Kelsey Yaratch, pitching a scoreless 5th frame. On the other side of the inning, the Dragons played add on. A Kailee Flowers two bagger placed her in scoring position. A few batters later, with the bases now loaded, Delaney Mixer was awarded a free pass and collected an RBI.
Taylor Spang was the final Tiffin pitcher of the afternoon. Spang, having collected a win in game one, was now after a save. She got it, but it got a little dicey in the 7th. The Dragons surrendered two unearned runs to put the Golden Eagles within a run. Taylor Spang was not to be denied, forcing the next batter to fly out, preserving a Tiffin 4-3 victory.
Kimmy Reynolds collected the win on the mound. Spang earned the save, having thrown 2 innings, giving up 2 runs, none earned, and 2 hits. At the plate Tiffin was led by Allyson Rock with a 2 for 3 performance, both hits being of the two base variety. Michelle Poe added an RBI, and Delaney Mixer may have saved the day with her bases loaded walk in the 5th to give the Dragons their fourth run of the day.
The Dragons now sit at 6-8 and will be back in action on March 25th at Ohio Valley
