The Tiffin University baseball team opened the 2015-16 season in Tennessee, taking on the Lee University Flames. In game one, the Dragons fell 5-4, but rebounded for a game two 2-0 win.
Game One
The two squads played scoreless baseball for the first two innings, but the Dragons got the offense rolling in the 3rd. Ryan Davis walked to leadoff, while Elijah Sanabria followed the free pass with a single to put two on. Kurt Barbeau collected his first hit as a Dragon, scoring Davis to give the Dragons a 1-0 lead. Senior Nick Hueneburg stepped to the plate with two on and two out, and with one swing of the bat gave the Dragons a 3-0 lead.
Tiffin added another run in the top of the 5th, using another big fly to crack the scoreboard. Ryan Davis connected for his first homer of his career, and gave the Dragons a 4-0 advantage. The Flames responded in the bottom half of the 5th with two runs on two hits.
Lee added another run in the 8th, cutting the Dragon lead to 4-3. The Dragons entered the bottom of the 9th with a lead, and with two down they had an opportunity to pick up their first win of the season. But Lee used two walks, a wild pitch, and a double to snag game one 5-4.
The Dragons were led at the plate by Nick Hueneburg and Ryan Davis. Hueneburg was 1 for 4 with two RBIs and a home run. Davis went 1 for 4 with a solo blast of his own. On the mound, Kevin Borst took the loss in relief, tossing 1 2/3 innings.
Game Two
The Dragons opened the nightcap with a bang. Isaac Perry launched a solo shot to give Tiffin a 1-0 lead. Patrick Bellinger took to the hill for the Dragons and kept the opposition off course, tossing four innings of shutout baseball, allowing only two hits.
The Dragons added an insurance run in the 7th. With two outs, and Ryan Davis in scoring position, Kurt Barbeau lined a single through the infield to push the Dragon lead to 2-0. Brady Ward relieved Bellinger, hurling three scoreless innings of relief. Ward punched out three, sealing a 2-0 victory.
Isaac Perry and Alec McCurry led the Dragons with a pair of hits. Perry's 1st inning home run accounted for his lone run and RBI. Barbeau went 1 for 4 with a 7th inning RBI.
The Dragons will wrap up the three game series tomorrow with a nine inning affair slated for a 1:00 pm first pitch.
