The Tiffin University baseball team swept Saginaw Valley on Saturday afternoon, taking three out of four from the Cardinals. Tiffin used stellar pitching in game one to win 4-3, and brought out the bats for game two in an 11-0 blowout.
Luke Fraley took to the hill in game one. Fraley entered the contest with one of the lowest ERAs in the GLIAC. His offense pounded out only six hits, but made everyone of those hits count.
The Dragons scored all four of their runs in the 2nd inning. It started with a Cody Spires hot shot down the left field line that allowed Spires to coast into second with a stand-up double. Elijah Sanabria followed that with a single to left field, and advanced to second on the throw home, which kept Spires at third base. Seth Bryant then chopped a ball to the left side of the infield which was booted by the shortstop to load the bases. Cole McCurry stepped to the plate and was hit by a pitch to drive home an RBI the hard way, and give Tiffin a 1-0 lead.
With the bases still loaded, the inning continued for Garrett Vernau. Vernau slapped a ball to the left side of the infield which the shortstop dove for, but Vernau was able to beat it out for an infield single and an RBI. A wild pitch brought Seth Bryant home, and the Dragons were up 3-0. The final run of the inning and game for the Dragons came from Nick Calandra, who reached on a fielder's choice to push Cole McCurry home.
Fraley continued to baffle Saginaw batters, but ran into some trouble in the 6th. Fraley surrendered a two run home run to right center field to pull the Cardinals within two runs at 4-2. The 7th was an eventful one as well. Fraley gave up another run to make the score 4-3. He was then lifted with two outs in the inning for southpaw Wyatt Myers. Myers, as many left-handers do, has a superb pick off move, and the tying run at first base for Saginaw found out the hard way. Myers never threw one pitch, as he threw over to first once, then fooled the runner and went back to first again and picked the runner off to end the game.
Fraley picks up the victory on the mound, throwing 6 2/3 innings, allowing 6 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned, and struck out 6. The Dragons were led at the plate by Elijah Sanabria and Cody Spires with two hits apiece.
Tyler Nichols was given the task of completing the sweep, as he was sent to the hill for Tiffin. Tyler was spotted an early six run lead as the Dragons woke up the bats in the 1st inning.
Tiffin hitters were facing the reigning GLIAC Pitcher of the Week Mitchell Lumley. The Dragons met the challenge head on, and brought their clubs with them. Lumley lasted all of one inning, surrendering 8 runs, all earned, 5 hits, and walked 3.
The Dragons scored six runs in the 1st inning on three hits, two walks, and a hit batsmen, with the big blow being Kyle Durham's shot to the right center field gap with the bases loaded to clear the bases. The 2nd inning was another big one for the Dragons. Nick Calandra was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and Nick Hueneburg followed that with a single. Alex Hartley then smacked a double down the right field line to score both runners and give the Dragons an 8-0 lead.
Tiffin added another run the very next inning when Nick Calandra led off with a single to center field, and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Nick Hueneburg stepped to the plate with an RBI opportunity, and capitalized on it with a bullet right back up the box to score Calandra.
The tag team of Calandra and Hueneburg were back at it again in the 5th inning. Calandra beat out an infield single and advanced to second on the errant throw by the pitcher. As in the 3rd inning, Hueneburg was at bat with Calandra at second, and Nick pushed the replay button, lining a double into the gap to score Calandra, making it 10-0.
While the Dragon offense was busy wreaking havoc, Tyler Nichols was busy keeping Saginaw off the bases. Nichols worked 7 innings, giving up only 3 hits, and punched out 6. He gave way to Brady Ward who worked an inning, and Tim Benner was the final hurler on the hill for the Dragons, throwing a scoreless 9th inning.
Tiffin would add another run in the 8th to make it 11-0. The RBI was attributed to Jack Dennis, who reached on a fielder's choice, and scored Hayden Spellbring from third base.
Nick Calandra and Nick Hueneburg were each 3 for 3, Hueneburg knocked in 2 runs, and Calandra scored 4 runs. Alex Hartley added three more RBIs to his season total with a double, and Kyle Durham was 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Tyler Nichols picks up his first win of the campaign, and is now 1-3 on the year.
The sweep pushes the Dragons overall record to 8-10 and puts them at 3-1 in the GLIAC. Tiffin will be back in action next Wednesday, as they travel to Indianapolis to take on the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds in a double header.
