APR. 14 — Leafs Get Split With Division-Leading Cougars
Clutch Taylor hit gives Goshen 4-3 win at Spring Arbor; hosts take first game

Spring Arbor, MI — With the race to advance to post-season play beginning to intensify in leagues all around the country, the Goshen College baseball team got a much-needed split at Mid-Central Conference divisional leader Spring Arbor University on Thursday. Goshen (14-9, 10-6) was able to rebound from a Game One 1-11 loss to take the afternoon’s second contest in thrilling fashion, as junior Ben Taylor literally saved the day with a two-run double in the top of the seventh inning with two outs gone and a 2-3 Cougar lead on the scoreboard. Taylor’s heroics were enough to lift the Leafs to a 4-3 win, keeping Goshen in second place both in the north division of the MCC as well as the league’s overall standings.

“Taylor’s game-winning hit was obviously good to have, but it was also good to see us put the bats together after a tough start to the day,” said Jayson Best, Goshen head coach. “We finally got some patience and put the ball in play like we needed to.”

Patience at the plate was something that Best’s team struggled with in the day’s first game, as the Leafs could only generate two hits on the day against Spring Arbor’s top pitcher. Meanwhile, the Cougars began to heat up at the plate, knocking out the Leafs by the 10-run rule, with all 11 runs occurring in the final four innings of work.

Junior Dan Samaritoni (3-2) was saddled with the loss on the mound. Freshman Mike Staehle accounted for half of Goshen’s hits with a double in the third inning.

“Sammy gave up a three-run homer in the third inning, and after that Spring Arbor was able to gain some confidence and put some hits together,” Best said.

Fortunately for Best, his squad rebounded with a workman-like approach in Game Two. Sophomore Dann Hunt (2-2) was solid on the mound all afternoon, while Goshen’s bats began to come to life. Senior Erik Hisner was 4-4 in the second game, reaching first on each trip to the plate. Sophomore Casey Cavell knocked in a run off a double, scoring two runs himself. Those plays all set up Taylor’s fateful hit in the top of the seventh inning, when the team needed it the most. Down by a 3-2 score and just one out away from being swept on the afternoon, Taylor rocketed a shot that scored two and proved to be the game-winner. If that weren’t enough, Taylor then closed out the Cougars on the mound, picking up his second save of the season in pitching the final two innings of work for the Leafs.

“You’ve got to be content with a split on the road against the top team in the conference,” Best said. “We’re now looking forward to Saturday when we get them back at our place. We’ve faced their top two pitchers, and we’re confident that we can get some things done this weekend.”

Goshen will host Spring Arbor at the Goshen College Baseball Complex for another double-header Saturday afternoon. Game time for the first of the pair is set for 1 p.m.