The Tiffin University softball team couldn't pull out of their late season tail spin on Sunday. The Dragons were swept by the Eagles of Ashland University 8-5 and 6-4.
In game one, Ashland got on the board first as they pushed a run home in the 1st inning against Dragon starter Kelsey Yaratch. Tiffin countered with two of their own in the top of the 2nd inning. Jena King singled to start the inning and then swiped second base. After the next two batters were retired, Kailee Flowers put a charge into a ball that cleared the left field fence to give Tiffin a 2-1 lead.
The Dragons couldn't hold the lead as Ashland tied the game in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Tiffin flexed some muscle again in the next half inning, as Payton Denman got in on the home run action as she cleared the left field wall with a runner aboard to put the Dragons back on top at 4-2.
The Dragons came unwound in the bottom of the inning, as they surrendered 3 runs on 3 hits and an error. Ashland tacked on another run in the 4th to take a 6-4 lead.
The Dragons gave it their best shot in the 6th, pushing an unearned run home. Jena King doubled to begin the inning, and an error by Ashland on a Samantha Ringwalt chopper hit to third allowed King to score to make it 6-5.
Once again, the Eagles had a response to Tiffin's charge. Ashland pushed two runs home with a couple of hits and a Tiffin error to make it 8-5, and ultimately the final score.
Sarah Brown took the loss in relief, pitching only a third of an inning, surrendering a hit, 3 runs, all earned, and walked 3. At the plate, Jena King was 2 for 3 and scored two runs. Kailee Flowers and Payton Denman each socked a two run home run.
In the finale, Kimmy Reynolds was handed the ball in hopes of stopping the Dragon skid, but ran into trouble in the 4th inning. In that inning, Ashland scored 4 runs on three hits. The big blow was a three run home run to left field that gave the Eagles a 4-0 lead.
Tiffin got on the board in the bottom of the 4th with a Cassandra Brown double that started the inning. She advanced to third on a fielder's choice, and was sent plate ward with a Michelle Poe sac fly to left field to make it 4-1.
The Eagles kept on hitting, and scored a run in the 5th and the 6th to take a commanding 6-1 lead. The Dragons, trailing by five in the bottom of the 7th, didn't go quietly. Tiffin loaded the bases with one down, and Payton Denman's single to center field scored the first run of the inning. Madison Yanek was summoned from the Dragon bench to pitch hit, and delivered a double to left field to score two more runs and pull Tiffin within two at 6-4.
With two down and the bases now loaded, the tying run stood at second base. Kaitlin Gruenewald was the batter due up, and the Eagles induced a fly ball to left field to end the game, giving Ashland a 6-4 victory.
Kimmy Reynolds took the loss on the mound, throwing all 7 innings, giving up 9 hits, 6 runs, all earned, walked 3 and struck out 1.
Offensively, Tiffin collected only five hits in the game. Samantha Ringwalt was 1 for 3 with an RBI, and Madison Yanek was 1 for 1 with 2 RBI's.
The two losses drops the Dragons to 20-18 overall, and 10-9 in GLIAC play. Tiffin will look to get back on the winning side of things this Tuesday as they play host to Walsh University.
