Tiffin University baseball (16-23, 8-14 G-MAC) split Thursday at Findlay to start the series against the Oilers, winning a slugfest 14-9 in game one and dropping a close 4-3 decision in game two.
The Dragons struck first in game one in the second inning. Andrew Fairbrother led off with a double and scored on a two-out RBI single by Hilario DeLaPaz. LaPaz then went to second on a wild pitch and scored on another two-out RBI single by Luke Westerman.
A two-out error by Luke Westerman led to one unearned run in the third for Findlay and TU starter Brandon Swope limited the damage by striking out the final batter of the inning. The Oilers then launched two home runs in the fourth, a solo and two-run blast to take their first lead of the game making it 4-2.
Tiffin answered right back in the fifth with two runs to tie the game. The bottom of the lineup set it up as Westerman led off with a walk and Colin Crisenberry doubled. Westerman scored on a wild pitch and Crisenberry scored on a sacrifice fly by Dylan Ruhe. Any further rally was halted when Cal Brazier struck out and Ty Hatfield was gunned down trying to steal second.
TU took the lead back in the sixth with two outs. Westerman drew his second walk of the game and Crisenberry belted a grand slam over the left field wall for his first careers home run to make it 8-4 Dragons. Griff Cady made it 9-4 in the seventh as he raced around the bases for an inside the park home run.
Steven Sexton induced a massive inning ending double play in the seventh to halt a Findlay rally, but the Oilers still managed two runs on two bloop singles to make it 9-6. TU had an answer in the eighth as they blew the game open. With two outs and the bases loaded, Brazier ripped a bases clearing double down the left field line to make it 12-6 and Fairbrother followed with a two-run home run to make it 14-6.
Findlay made it interesting late, scoring three runs in the final two innings but Nick Hayes came in with two outs in the ninth and recorded the final out of the game to secure the win.
Trent Hedges (W, 2-0) got the win in relief tossing 2.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Brayden Clark pitched the eighth inning for his second appearance of the year on the mound while Jacob Soha and Hayes combined to pitch the ninth.
Hatfield and Crisenberry both went 3-for-5 at the plate.
In game two, the third inning was crucial for both teams. Tiffin took advantage of two Findlay errors to plate two unearned runs. Hatfield scored on a dropped fly ball and Fairbrother had an RBI single. Cady walked to load the bases with one out but the Dragons were unable to tack on any more runs as Johnny Baileys and DeLaPaz were retired to end the inning.
TU starter Johnathon Ray's kryptonite was Findlay catcher Austin Adelman who was 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. His two-run home run in the third tied the game in the third inning and he gave the Oilers the lead for good with an RBI double in the fifth.
The Dragons once again couldn't capitalize with runners in scoring position in the sixth. Westerman led off with a double and scored on an RBI single by Hatfield. Hatfield moved to third on a double by Aidan Grabowski bringing but they were both stranded there with one out as Brazier and Fairbrother couldn't bring them in.
TU went down in order in their final at bat.
Ray (L, 2-4) pitched all 6.0 innings and allowed four runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Hatfield and Grabowski both went 3-for-4 at the plate.
