GLENVILLE, W.Va. - The Glenville State Baseball team split their four-game series with Tiffin today after winning game one 6-5 but losing in the second game of the doubleheader and final game of the series, 7-4.
Game One – GSU 6 | Tiffin 5
Following a quick opening inning, Tiffin got the scoring started in the top of the 2nd with a sacrifice fly. Grant Landis controlled the damage, getting out of the inning with a strikeout. Landis kept the Dragon bats at bay in the top of the 3rd, allowing the Pioneers to capture the lead in the bottom of the 3rd with a 2-run HR by Zach Morris. TU quickly regained the lead in the top of the 4th, converting on a bases loaded situation with a 2 RBI single to right.
After juicing the bases with one out in the bottom half of the 4th, the Pioneers were down to their final strike of the inning until Luis Liriano took one on the shoulder, tying the game back up at three all. However, Tiffin continued to answer back, grabbing the lead once again on a sac fly in the top of the 5th. Lance Minson hit an opposite field home run in the bottom of the 5th to knot the game up at 4-4. A quiet 6th inning led to the Dragons hitting a solo home run in the top of the 7th as the teams continued to trade off the lead. That finally ended in the bottom of the 7th when the Pioneers were down to their final out. Zach Morris singled to keep the game alive and Fabian Escalante hit a moonshot to right field to walk it off, giving GSU the 6-5 victory.
Box Score
Fabian Escalante and Zach Morris had identical stat lines, going 2-4 with 2 RBI each. They both hit 2-run home runs as well. Lance Minson also recorded an RBI with his solo HR. The Pioneers exhausted four arms with Ty Walton picking up the victory after coming out of the pen late.
Griff Cady and Isaiah Mirabal both finished with 2 RBI for the Dragons. Mat Carden took the loss after pitching three innings of relief, allowing three runs (all earned) on three hits.
Game Two – GSU 4 | Tiffin 7
Zach Morris got the scoring started in the bottom of the 1st with an RBI double down the left field line that brought Mason Lohr in. Later in the inning, the Pioneers had the bases loaded but a strikeout closed the book on the first frame. Tiffin grabbed the lead in the top of the 2nd, using a solo home run, RBI single and a groundout in the infield that led to another run, gaining the 3-1 advantage. The lead wouldn't last long for the Dragons as Zach Morris hit an opposite field 3-run HR to give GSU the lead back.
TU wasted no time knotting the contest back up, crossing a run in the top of the 3rd. The bats went quiet for both teams until a leadoff double and an error gave Tiffin the 5-4 advantage in the top of the 6th. The Dragons put the finishing touches on their victory with a two-run HR in the top of the 7th.
Box Score
Zach Morris led the Pioneers with two hits and 4 RBI while Fabian Escalante and Caden Hall recorded a hit. Josue Matos took the loss after going 3.2 innings out of the pen, surrendering one run (unearned) on just two hits and striking out four.
Logan Swonger went 3-3 with 3 RBI to lead the Tiffin offense. Three other Dragons recorded an RBI in the win. Zach Johnson pitched 4.2 innings of great relief, giving up no hits, walking three and striking out eight.
Up Next For The Pioneers
The Pioneers are set for a long week, playing at UNC Pembroke on Tuesday to kick it off. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
