The Tiffin University baseball team's attempt for a sweep fell short on Saturday evening, as the Dragons dropped the night cap of their doubleheader to Embry-Riddle 13-5 after defeating Walsh University 8-7 earlier in the afternoon.
Game One
The Cavaliers stormed the gates in the opening inning, plating a run on three hits to take a 1-0 lead. The second inning didn't go much better for Tiffin, as the Cavaliers scored another run on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.
The Dragons powered up the bats in their half of the second, using a lead off dinger from John Heckman to cut the deficit to 2-1. Ryan Thomas followed Heckman with a triple, and a walk to Kyle Vance put runners on the corners with one out. Zach Campbell walked to load the bases, and Brayden Callihan kept the train rolling with a single to right field to plate a pair of runs to give Tiffin a 3-2 lead.
Heckman was up to his same old tricks in the bottom of the third, clocking a solo home run to left field to give the Dragons a 4-2 lead. The Cavaliers pulled a run closer in the top of the 4th, plating a single run on two hits.
The 5th was a special inning for Tiffin, as the Dragons loaded the bases with one out. Senior Ryan Thomas stepped to the plate with a chance to drive home a couple of runs with a single, but Thomas decided to clear the bases with a grand slam to left field to give Tiffin an 8-3 lead.
The later innings were rocky for the Dragons, as the Cavaliers attempted to mount a comeback. Walsh plated three runs to pull within two at 8-6. In the 9th, the Cavaliers scored a run with one out to make it 8-7. Tiffin then turned to Michael Boswell to slam the door on Walsh, producing a pair of fly balls to put the Cavaliers to bed, preserving an 8-7 victory.
Starter Luke Fraley earned his first victory of the year, hurling five innings while striking out six. At the plate Ryan Thomas was the leader for Tiffin, finishing 2 for 4 with a grand slam. John Heckman smacked a pair of home runs for the Dragons, the first multi home run game of his career.
Game Two
Tiffin got off to a nice start in their game against Embry-Riddle, scoring a run on two hits and an error to lead 1-0. The second inning was another positive one for the Dragons, scoring two runs on two hits and an error to lead 3-0.
The Dragons kept on rolling in their half of the third, scoring two more runs on one hit, an error, and two wild pitches to lead 5-0. The Eagles got a run back in the 5th, and then opened up on the Dragons in the 7th.
Embry-Riddle crossed the plate five times in the 7th, doing so via three hits, three walks, and two wild pitches. The 8th was another rough go for the Dragons, as the Eagles scored seven more runs to drop the Dragons 13-5.
It was the first time the Dragons' pitching staff surrendered 10 or more runs this season, as Cody Orr took the loss in relief. Ryan Thomas continued to stay hot at the plate for Tiffin, finishing 3 for 4. Nich Green finished 2 for 3 with a pair of runs scored, and Kyle Vance was 2 for 4 with a pair of runs batted in.