Tiffin University baseball (0-2) opened the season on Saturday with two tough losses at Lee University (TN).
The Flames won game one 13-3 in seven innings and took game two 8-3.
Game 1:
After a scoreless first two innings, the Flames took advantage of two Tiffin errors to plate two in the third. Lee added four more in the fourth with the big blow being a three-run blast to make it 6-0.
Brayden Clark answered with his own three-run blast in the sixth to cut the lead in half. It was Clark's first career home run, which made it 6-3. Any momentum Tiffin had from the big hit was halted as Lee answered with two in the sixth.
The Flames scored five more in the seventh, which put the run rule into effect and ended the game.
The Dragons had two on and one out in the fourth inning but came up empty.
Austin Guerra pitched 0.1 innings and was credited with the loss. Brandon Swope got the start and pitched 2.0 scoreless innings.
Game 2:
The Flames picked up where they left off in game one by plating four in their first at bat of the game. TU got one back in the second as Jovanny Skrelja scored on a sacrifice fly by Gavin Marceric. With runners on second and third and two out in the same inning, Adam Deitschel struck out leaving Luke Westerman and Julian Hernandez stranded.
Trailing 5-1 in the fourth inning, Deitschel and Hernandez provided RBI singles to make it 5-3. On Deitschel's single, Hernandez was thrown out at the plate trying to make it a one-run game.
Lee got two runs back on a two-run home run to make it 7-3 and added another in the fifth making it 8-3.
The Dragons had two on and two out again in the sixth, but a strikeout by Dylan Ruhe ended the inning. TU was retired in order in the seventh in their final at bat of the game.
Johnathon Ray got the start and took the loss pitching 4.0 innings allowing seven runs (six earned) with four walks and two strikeouts. Three of the four walks came in the first inning which led to the Flames' rally.
Hayden Bush pitched 1.0 scoreless innings with one strikeout.
