The Tiffin University softball team was potentially one play away from a sweep, but Northwood's execution earned them a game one 1-0 win. Tiffin then brought out the bats to push enough runs home to secure a 3-1 game two win.
In game one, Kimmy Reynolds took the mound and pitched outstanding. She did her best to keep Northwood off the board, but allowed the lone run of the game in the 4th. A walk and a single put runners on the corners with one out. Then one of the more daring plays in sports occurred. With the runner charging home from third, the Timberwolves' executed the suicide squeeze to make it a 1-0 game.
Tiffin had their chance in the 5th, but came up empty. Jena King led off with a double and was sacrificed to third by Payton Denman. With one out, Tamara Link popped to the pitcher, and pinch hitter Delaney Mixer struck out to end the threat.
That was the last real threat for either side, and the game ended with Northwood winning 1-0. Tiffin only collected three hits in the game, and Northwood only scraped together two. Kimmy Reynolds is the tough luck loser, throwing a complete game, walking 5, and striking out 8.
In game two, it looked as if a single run would do the job again, but the late innings proved prosperous for the Dragons.
The game two start was handed to Sarah Brown. Brown, coming off her record 18 strikeout performance a day ago, was rock solid. She pitched six innings, giving up a run on four hits, and fanned another 7 batters.
Her offense got things going in the top of the 6th. Jena King reached on an error and was sacrificed to third by Allyson Rock. Amanda Rock then drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Michelle Poe then clubbed a double that allowed King to score, and another Timberwolves' error on the play pushed Rock home to give the Dragons a 2-0 lead. The final Tiffin run came off the bat of Payton Denman, with a line drive single that gave Tiffin a 3-0 advantage.
Northwood did their best to make it interesting in the bottom of the 7th. With Brown still on the bump, the Timberwolves scored on a solo shot that left the ball yard to make it 3-1. Brown allowed a double to the next and batter and was then lifted in favor of Taylor Spang. Taylor then punched out two of the next three batters to record the save, and give her team a 3-1 victory.
Brown picks up the win, and Spang earns the save in relief. At the plate, Michelle Poe was 2 for 2 with the big two RBI double. Payton Denman was 2 for 3, and picked up an RBI as well.
The split pushes Tiffin's overall record to 12-10, and GLIAC record to 3-1. Tiffin will be back in action Wednesday as they travel to take on the Hillsdale Chargers.
