The Tiffin University baseball team salvaged a split on Saturday afternoon, winning game three 8-3, but fell in the finale, 9-1.
Game Three
The Dragons got down early in game three, falling behind 2-0. Tiffin pushed their first run home in the top of the 2nd, using a Devon Fisk bases loaded walk to make it a 2-1 contest. Walsh countered with a run the next half inning to extend their lead to 3-1.
Dragon starter Tyler Nichols settled down after a rocky start, shutting out the Cavaliers from the 3rd inning on. Tiffin pulled a run closer in the 5th with an Alec McCurry single through the left side of the infield to trail 3-2. The Dragons blew the game open in the 6th, scoring four runs with one hit, three walks, and two hit batters. Garrett Vernau's single brought home the first run of the inning, followed by Brayden Callihan's ground out that allowed Kyle Durham to trot home. Alec McCurry collected a RBI after being hit by a pitch, and Isaac Perry collected a run batted in after he was plunked, giving Tiffin a 6-3 lead.
The Dragons added two insurance runs in the 7th. Kurt Barbeau's bouncing ball was mishandled by the Cavaliers, leading to Seth Bryant and Kyle Durham scoring, and TU led 8-3.
Tyler Nichols earned the win on the mound, tossing six innings, surrendering three runs, all earned, while scattering eight hits. Offensively, Alec McCurry finished 2 for 4 with two runs batted in, and Garrett Vernau was 2 for 4 with a run scored and a RBI.
Game Four
Tiffin struck first in the finale, plating a run in the top of the 2nd. Garrett Vernau continued his hot streak, cracking a double to right center field scoring Kyle Durham.
Walsh took the lead in the 3rd inning, scoring three runs. The Cavaliers never looked back, adding six more runs over the final six innings, beating the Dragons 9-1.
Tiffin starter Kyle Montell took the loss on the mound, pitching 2 2/3 innings, surrendering three runs and five hits. At the plate, Tiffin collected eight hits and three walks, but stranded 10 runners. Ryan Davis and Garrett Vernau both finished 2 for 3, while Kyle Durham was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
The split moves the Dragons to 8-12 overall and 1-3 in GLIAC play. Tiffin will return to the diamond on March 29, traveling to Cedarville, Ohio to tangle with the Cedarville University Yellow Jackets.
