The Tiffin University baseball team (15-28, 10-15 G-MAC) snapped a seven-game skid and defeated Hillsdale 7-6 in 10 innings in the series opener that was played on Friday.
The Dragons came ready to play and took an early lead. Jovanny Skrelja led off the game with a double and scored on an RBI single by Griff Cady. Later in the inning, Adam Deitschel scored when Michael Patellis drew a bases loaded walk. A chance for a crooked number ended when Julian Hernandez grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The Chargers answered with one as Brandon Swope walked the leadoff man and he came around to score.
Tiffin added two more in the second after loading the baes with nobody out. Deitschel got hit by a pitch with the bases which scored the third run and Cady drew a bases loaded walk for the fourth run. The Dragons were unable to put up a crooked number though as Brayden Clark and Patellis struck out following a pitching change to end the inning. The Chargers answered TU's two runs in the second with a two-run home run to make it a one-run game.
TU got two more in the sixth as Gavin Marceric and Luke Westerman recorded back-to-back RBI doubles. After the half inning, the teams entered a weather delay for lightning.
Once play resumed, Brock Polilli relieved Swope and allowed two runs in the seventh which made it a one-run game. In the eighth, Brett Madison worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Chargers off the board but Hillsdale broke through off Madison for one in the ninth to force extras. After the Chargers tied the game, Madison recorded back-to-back strikeouts with two on to force extras.
TU wasted no time retaking the lead in the 10th. Clark was placed on second and Patellis sacrificed him to third. Following a walk to Hernandez, Clark scored on a sacrifice fly by Marceric. Hernandez stole second base but was picked off to end any chance of the Dragons adding an insurance run.
Hillsdale did the same as the Dragons and sacrificed the runner to third base, however, Dominic Elia closed out the game on the mound by striking out back-to-back batters to end it.
Madison (1-3) earned his first win of the year on the mound and Elia locked down his first save of the season. Elia struck out two in 1.0 innings of work and Madison struck out three in 2.0 innings of work while allowing one run on three hits with two walks.
Polilli allowed two runs on two hits and struck out two in 2.0 innings. Swope struck out four and allowed three runs on four hits with two walks in 5.0 innings.
Marceric had a big day at the plate going 3 for 4 with two RBI and also scored two runs. Cady went 1 for 3 with two RBI and walked twice.
