APR. 1 — Squad Getting Back In League Race; Win Two
Leafs finally take nail-biting decisions; win by 2-1 and 5-4 counts on "road"

Huntington, IN — After dropping eight of its first 10 Mid-Central Conference games overall and four coming by one run and another pair by two-run outcomes, it is safe to say that the Goshen College baseball team is due for it’s fair share of closely-contested, heartwarming victories.

Chalk up two for Saturday.

Attempting to write a new theme to a season thus far deemed as close but not close enough, Goshen took a pair of hotly contested contests from MCC foe Huntington University Saturday afternoon, winning by 2-1 and 5-4 scores over the “host” Foresters. While the contests were played at Huntington’s Forest Glenn Park, Goshen was designated as the home team — a result of a scheduling snafu that forced the Leafs out of their own ballpark (the Goshen Track & Field Invite was taking place at the same time).

Getting the opportunity to bat last proved of vital importance for Goshen (9-21, 4-8) in both contests, as the Leafs used timely hitting and solid pitching to record its second double-dip wins in league play this season.

“It was great to get two wins against a tough conference team,” said Josh Keister, Goshen head coach. “We have been in a lot of close games like this all year and it feels especially good to come out on the wining end twice.”

Senior and 2005 MCC Player of the Year Ben Taylor led the charge for Goshen in the day’s first game, going the distance on the mound while giving up just two hits and one run to the Foresters in a dominating performance. Huntington’s lone run came in the first inning of play, as a lead-off walk and a single combined to plate the Foresters for a 1-0 lead. From there it was all Taylor, however, as the right-hander struck out five while forcing 15 outs the remainder of the way.

Goshen’s offensive breakthrough came in the fourth inning where, following a lead-off walk from sophomore Mike Staehle, Taylor reached base on an error by the Foresters’ pitcher. After junior Nate Colclasure was hit by a pitch it was freshman Kyle Koch and senior Greg Koop coming up big, each ripping singles to score the tying and go-ahead runs.

Taylor (3-4) was credited with the well-deserved win on the mound, while Goshen’s offense was held in check by nearly equal Huntington pitching: Only Koch, Koop, Colclasure and sophomore Nate Montiel registered hits in the contest, with Koch and Koop tallying the two RBI.

Koop’s dramatic hit was the first of two on the day, as the Foresters and Leafs were only getting warmed up. The second tilt began with Huntington building a large lead — by the day’s standards — scrapping together three runs through the first three innings of work to take a 3-0 advantage. Goshen was able to put together impressive fifth and sixth innings, scoring two runs in each to capture a 4-4 tie (Huntington scored one run in the top of the sixth as well).

Koop led the way during that stretch, as with two outs retired and Goshen trailing by a 4-2 score in the bottom of the sixth, Koop registered the game’s biggest hit. Needed runs in the worst way, the senior third-baseman ripped a single, driving in two runs to tie the game.

With the teams battling it out through the seventh, eighth and ninth innings — the teams combined for four hits and six runners left on base during that stretch prior to the bottom of the ninth — it was Colclasure who would come up with the walk-off at-bat.

After singles by freshman Landon Rorher and Montiel and an intentional walk to Staehle set the stage, it was Colclasure that would end things in dramatic fashion. With one out retired and the bases loaded, Colclasure blasted a shot to deep center field, driving in the game-winning run in completing the day’s sweep.

While an emotional booster for his team on the field, the wins had significant meaning for the Leafs off it, as losses would have severely hindered Goshen’s chances for a post-season berth via MCC competition.

“Greg Koop has struggled some offensively this year, so it was great to see him come up with the big, two-out hit to tie the second game,” Keister said. “We’ve been needing that big hit or big play all year long and we got several of them on Saturday.”

Koop’s offensive line in Game Two was impressive, as the senior finished 2-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Colclasure finished 1-4 with a run batted in and scored, while Montiel was 1-4 as well with an RBI. Junior Brian Shelton finished 2-3 from the plate with a double. Koch was 1-4 with a run scored.

Goshen will take a brief hiatus from MCC play on Tuesday, as the team travels to Purdue University North Central for a double-header slated to begin at 1 p.m. The Leafs’ game on Sunday against Manchester College was postponed due to inclement weather. A make-up date has been set for Sunday, Apr. 30 at 3 p.m.