MAR. 14 — Leafs Take Out Grace In First MCC Tilts
Goshen starts off conference play in strong fashion; take 3-0 and 8-4 decisions

Winona Lake, IN — With cold temperatures and brutal winds setting the backdrop for the first Mid-Central Conference games of the season, it was Goshen College that weathered the elements most successfully, dealing rival Grace College a pair of defeats in Winona Lake Tuesday afternoon. The Leafs took the first match up by a 3-0 score and followed with an 8-4 decision in the second, generating a total 22 hits on the day.

“It was important for us to get these early-season conference games in, even though the weather was quite cold,” said Josh Keister, Goshen head coach. “All conference games are important but Grace is a divisional opponent making them even more crucial.”

Goshen (6-10, 2-0) rode the right arm of 2005 MCC Player of the Year Ben Taylor (2-2) in the first contest, as the senior tossed a two-hit shut out from the mound en route to a 3-0 win in Game One. Taylor — who struck out 11 Lancer batters in going the distance — was aided by a strong start at the plate from his teammates in the win. Junior Nate Colclasure blasted a one-out home run in the first inning, while a single from sophomore Mike Staehle and a Colclasure sacrifice fly in the second inning pushed two more runs across, giving Taylor all the insurance he would need.

Staehle led an impressive hitting performance for the Leafs, going 3-4 with his RBI. Taylor helped his own cause going 2-3 from the plate, while senior Greg Koop and sophomore Alex Childers each belted out doubles.

Goshen’s offensive hot streak continued into the start of Game Two, as a two-run homer from junior Brian Shelton capped off a three-run first inning that put the Lancers back on their heels once again. Following a sacrifice fly by Taylor to score Goshen’s first run, it was Shelton who cranked his second dinger of the season to give the Leafs a 3-0 lead. Grace would answer with a three-run, third inning to make things interesting, but a two-run fourth and fifth inning from the Leafs would be too much offense for the hosts to handle.

Junior Dann Hunt (2-2) was credited with the pitching win, going 6 and 1/3 innings while allowing just six hits and striking out four. Shelton led another stellar batting performance for the team, finishing 3-4 from the plate. Colclasure added a 3-5 stat line that produced a team-best three RBI off a pair of doubles. Taylor, Staehle, Koop, Childers and freshmen Ian Swartz and Kyle Koch all registered hits as well, with Staehle, Koop and Swartz posting doubles.

“We finally broke out offensively collecting 22 hits on the day,” Keister said. “We still did not produce many runs but our pitching was solid. Ben Taylor pitched the way he always does and Dann Hunt had another great start solidifying himself as our clear number two starter.”

Goshen will look to open league play with a commanding season sweep of the Lancers on Friday, as Grace will visit the Goshen College Baseball Complex after an original Thursday date was set prior to inclimate weather forcing a 24-hour postponement. Game time for the first of two seven-inning matches is set for 1 p.m.