GOSHEN, Ind. – The Goshen College baseball team played in two drastically different contests as they were at home for the first time this year, hosting Lourdes University (Ohio) Saturday afternoon.

After struggling in every facet of the game during a 15-5 loss in the opener, the Maple Leafs rallied for a solid 12-1 victory in game two to salvage a sweep winning their second contest in their last three.

The story of game two was sophomore starting pitcher Matt Austin.  The righty slowed an offense which accounted for 15 runs on 18 hits in the first game and set the tone for a much different ballgame in the nightcap.  In his first career start, Austin went the distance, striking out four and scattering just five hits and one unearned run in seven innings of work.

Another play which set the tone early came on the defensive end.  With runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the first, sophomore shortstop Arrick Armington made a sprawling stop on a hard ground ball up the middle.  He quickly rose to his feet and fired to first just in time to end the inning and keep Lourdes off the board.

Using the newly found momentum, the Maple Leaf offense went to work in the bottom of the frame.  A leadoff single by junior Corey Johnson and a double by freshman Jose Andrade set up a three-run blast by senior Garrett Cannizzo.  His home run to left-center was Goshen's first of the year giving them an early 3-0 lead.

They were not done, though.  Armington singled up the middle, stole second base, and then scored on an Andy Swisher triple.  Then, Swisher quickly scored on a Paxson Miller RBI groundout capping a five-run rally.

Goshen added three runs in each the third and fourth innings providing more than enough support for Austin.  The Leafs two seniors in the lineup, Swisher and Cannizzo, each finished with two hits, two runs scored, and four knocked in.  Andrade and Armington also added two hits each.

In the opener, Armington and junior Caleb Yoder each had two hits, but Goshen tallied just seven overall.  They also committed three errors defensively, while walking five and hitting a pair of batters from the mound.

The Maple Leafs (6-7) continue non-conference play with a double header at Purdue University North Central on Sunday.  They will start Mid-Central College Conference play at the University of Saint Francis on Tuesday.