The Tiffin University basball team took one on the chin on Wednesday afternoon, falling 5-4 and 15-14 to the Ohio Dominican Panthers.
Game One
The Dragons got on the board first, scoring two runs in the top of the 2nd. Nick Hueneburg supplied the baserunner, and Kyle Durham brought the power, clubbing a two run homer over the right field wall.
The Panthers tied the score in their half of the 3rd, scoring two runs on three hits. Devon Fisk pushed TU ahead in the 4th, slapping a single to left field to score Kyle Durham. ODU was up to the task a half inning later, scoring a run on a pair of hits to knot the score at 3-3. TU regained the lead in the 6th on three hits. After singles by Nick Hueneburg and Kyle Durham, Garrett Vernau cracked a double to left field, scoring Hueneburg to give the Dragons a 4-3 lead. A Tiffin wild pitch allowed the Panthers to tie the score at 4-4.
The Dragons were held scoreless in the top of the 7th, but the runs kept on coming for the Panthers. Ohio Dominican walked the Dragons off, scoring a run on a double to left center field to defeat the Dragons 5-4.
Patrick Bellinger took the loss on the mound, falling to 2-3 overall. At the plate, Nick Hueneburg finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored. Kyle Durham was a perfect 3 for 3 with two runs scored and two runs batted in.
Game Two
The second game of the twin bill looked like a blowout early on, but the Dragons made quite a run late.
The Panthers held a 12-1 lead after six innings, but the Dragons with hope seeming all lost dug in and chipped away. The Dragons scored six runs on seven hits, to cut the Panther lead to 12-7. Nick Hueneburg, Devon Fisk, and Ryan Davis all collected RBI singles. Kurt Barbeau garnered a run batted in with a sacrifice fly to score Isaac Perry. ODU responded with a run in the bottom of the 7th, to extend their lead to 13-7. Another run crossed the plate for the Panthers in the 8th, to regain a touchdown lead at 14-7.
In the 9th, Tiffin made one of the more miraculous comebacks in recent memory, scoring seven runs in the 9th. Andrew Hohman collected a run batted in with a sacrifice fly. Alec McCurry singled back up the middle to score Kurt Barbeau, making it a 14-9 game. The big blow came a few batters later as, with two aboard, Devon Fisk walloped a pitch over the right field wall to pull the Dragons within a pair at 14-12. After Isaac Perry was hit by a pitch, Kyle Durham sliced a double to left field, scoring Perry, cutting the deficit to a single run. Brayden Callihan stepped to the plate with the tying run at 2nd base, and was up to the challenge. Callihan singled back up the box, tying the game at 14-14.
The Dragons jubilation was short lived, as the Panthers once again walked off the field with a victory in tow, singling the go ahead run home to drop the Dragons 15-14.
Tyler Nichols took the loss in relief, falling to 2-6. TU belted 16 hits in game two, with Alec McCurry leading the way with a 4 for 6 performance. McCurry scored two runs and knocked in three runs. Kurt Barbeau collected three hits, a run batted in, and two runs scored. Devon Fisk was constantly on base, finishing 2 for 3 with two runs scored, three walks, a home run, and four RBI's.
The two losses drops the Dragons to 15-21 overall and 6-12 in GLIAC play.
