The series that wouldn't end finally came to a close on Tuesday afternoon, with the Hillsdale Chargers sweeping the day. Hillsdale won game three, which was a continuation from Sunday, 15-9. In the final game, the Chargers held on to defeat the Dragons 3-2.
Game Three
Hillsdale struck early and often, scoring six runs on six hits and an error in the top of the 1st. Nick Hueneburg supplied the power a half inning later, smashing a three run homer to cut the Chargers' lead to 6-3. Hillsdale added three more runs in the top of the 2nd, and once again led by six runs at 9-3.
In the bottom of the 2nd, Fernando Nieto began the inning with a leadoff walk. A Kurt Barbeau single past the shortstop put two runners aboard. Alec McCurry plated Nieto with a bouncer up the middle to make it a 9-4 contest. With Barbeau and McCurry on base, Nick Hueneburg stepped to the plate. Hueneburg deposited a belt high fastball beyond the center field wall to pull the Dragons closer at 9-7.
Two more Charger runs in the 4th gave Hillsdale a 11-7 advantage. TU countered with a run in their half of the 4th. Devon Fisk singled, and motored home on Kurt Barbeau's double to the left center field gap. A solo homer by Hillsdale in the 6th, made it a 12-7 game. A bases loaded walk to Ryan Davis in the bottom of the 7th pushed another runner home for the Dragons and Tiffin trailed 12-9.
The Chargers put the game on ice with a three spot in the top of the 9th, and TU fell 15-9.
Starter Kevin Borst took the loss, hanging around for 1 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits and six earned runs. At the plate, Nick Hueneburg collected six of the nine Tiffin RBI's, finishing 2 for 5 with two three run bombs.
Game Four
To this point, the Chargers had plated 42 run in three games, while Tiffin had pushed 39 to the plate. So of course the series finale turned into a pitchers duel.
Both sides were held quiet through three innings, with the Chargers collecting the only two hits of the contest. That was all about to change when Nick Hueneburg stepped to the plate. On cue, the senior third baseman belted a fastball on the inner third of the plate beyond the left field fence to give the Dragons their first hit and run of the game.
Tiffin starter Kyle Montell plowed along through five shutout innings, before running into trouble. With two on, a bouncing ball was booted by the Dragons, allowing Hillsdale to tie the game at 1-1. Montell was relieved by Luke Fraley, who struck out the final hitter of the inning to strand runners at second and third.
A single to center field in the top of the 8th plated two runs for Hillsdale, staking the Chargers to a 3-1 lead. The Dragons battled back a half inning later, using Kyle Durham's sacrifice fly to left field to pull within a run at 3-2.
The bottom of the 9th had all the drama a person could stand. Kyle Lento reached on an error, but was erased with Seth Bryant's fielder's choice. Andrew Hohman pinch ran for Bryant, and scampered to second with Devon Fisk's single to left field. The game tying run was hung up and tagged out between third and home when Hillsdale threw behind the runner rounding third base on a Charger error, ending the game with Hillsdale prevailing 3-2.
Reliever Luke Fraley took the loss, tossing 2 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs. The Dragons offense, after collecting 39 runs on 36 hits in the three previous games, managed only five hits.
Tiffin falls to 10-15 overall and 2-6 in GLIAC play. TU will have to lick their wounds and rise tomorrow, as they travel to Detroit, Michigan for a non-conference tilt with the Wayne State Warriors.
