The Tiffin University baseball team split on Sunday, falling 2-1, but rebounding 4-3 for a 2-2 series split.
Game One
Pitching on both sides dominated the game, but the Oilers were able to push two runs to the plate in the 2nd inning on three walks and a single.
Tiffin starter Kevin Borst hung around for 3 2/3 innings, surrendering four hits, two runs, and struck out two. Weylin Frisbie took over, holding the Oilers scoreless for the remainder of the game while striking out four.
Tiffin had numerous opportunities. In the 4th, the Dragons put runners at 2nd and 3rd with less than one out, but two strikeouts ended the rally. In the 6th, the Dragons were able to push a run across. A single by Kurt Barbeau and a double by Alec McCurry placed runners in scoring position. Nick Hueneburg drove home Barbeau on a sacrifice fly to center field, cutting the deficit to 2-1. With runners still in scoring position, the Dragons wasted an opportunity to tie the contest, stranding both runners.
In the 7th, Tiffin again threatened, placing a pair of runners aboard, but two strikeouts put an end to the Dragons' hope of a comeback.
Kevin Borst took the loss on the mound, falling to 2-3 this season. At the plate, Alec McCurry finished 2 for 3, and Ryan Davis finished 2 for 3 with a double.
Game Two
The series finale saw more runs scored in the first inning than were scored in both games on Saturday. The Dragons showed aggression early, forcing Findlay into defensive mistakes. Alec McCurry reached on an infield single, and moved to 2nd on Isaac Perry's walk. McCurry swiped third, and raced home on the errant throw to third. Perry rolled into second after the error, and scored on another Findlay error to give Tiffin a 2-0 lead.
The Oilers responded a half inning later, scoring three runs on two hits, two hit batters, and a walk. Dragon starter Marc Deitsch recorded only one out before Kyle Montell was called upon to eventually pitch the Dragons out of the 1st.
For the next six innings, neither team was able to score, as Kyle Montell baffled Oilers throughout. The Tiffin offense, trailing headed into the top of the 8th, supplied Montell with some runs. After a hit by Nick Hueneburg and another Oiler error, Kyle Durham delivered the goods, singling up the middle scoring Hueneburg and Garrett Vernau to give Tiffin a 4-3 lead.
Patrick Bellinger was called upon to put an end to the contest, hurling a perfect 9th for his 3rd save of the season.
Montell picks up the win in relief, tossing 7 2/3 innings of five hit no run baseball while striking out a pair. Kurt Barbeau finished 2 for 4 setting the table for Alec McCurry, Isaac Perry, and Nick Hueneburg. McCurry and Perry each finished 1 for 4 with a run scored and Hueneburg was 1 for 3 with a run batted in.
The split moves the Dragons to 15-19 overall and 6-10 in GLIAC play.
