MAR. 7 — Squad Splits With IUS To Halt Eight-Game Skid
First games back in Midwest yield better results as Goshen takes one of two

New Albany, IN — After a week-long swing to the southeast United States produced an 0-7 record for the Goshen College baseball team — with three of those losses coming by two runs or less — the Leafs found the Midwest more hospitable, as the team split a pair of contest at Indiana University Southeast Tuesday afternoon.

After dropping a disappointing 1-4 contest in the day’s opener, Goshen (4-10, 0-0) responded with a powerful 12-3 win in the second contest, giving head coach Josh Keister reasons to be optimistic as the Mid-Central Conference season opener approaches.

“It was really good to get a win and break the losing streak,” Keister said. “It was a tough stretch where we played some extremely tough competition down south, especially in Alabama. Even though we lost eight straight we had chances to win along the way, with two of our losses coming in extra innings.”

Extra innings were not needed Tuesday at Indiana Southeast, though in the first contest Goshen would have liked the additional opportunities. After falling behind by a 1-0 score after three full innings of play, the Leafs tied the game up in the top of the fifth off a single by senior Ben Taylor. Keister’s decision to insert sophomore Nate Montiel to pinch run for Taylor proved ingenious, as Montiel stole second, then third en route to scoring on an error by the Grenadiers’ catcher.

Unfortunately for Goshen, that lead would not hold, as Indiana Southeast cranked out three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, giving Taylor (1-2) just his second loss of the young season.

Taylor, who went the distance on the mound, struck out nine while walking just two. He gave up just four hits while three of Southeast’s four runs were earned. Taylor was one of five Leaf players to single in the game — sophomores Chris Hostetler and Alex Childerss along with freshmen Kyle Koch and Ian Swartz were the others.

Offense was no such problem for the Leafs in the day’s second game, however, as Goshen erupted for 12 hits en route to 12 runs in the nine-run win. A two-run first inning set the tone for the remainder of the contest, as Goshen tacked on five runs in both the fourth and sixth innings, keeping the game out of reach throughout. Taylor and junior Nate Colclasure did the most damage at the plate, each driving in three runs. Taylor’s RBI count resulted from a home run in the sixth inning, while Colclasure belted a double and a single to push three across. Junior Brian Shelton also homered, driving in two off three hits — another of which was a double. Swartz finished 2-4 at the plate with an RBI, while sophomore Mike Staehle went 3-4, driving in one on a trifecta of singles.

Freshamn Aaron Keister (1-1) registered the pitching win, going the distance while striking out three Grenadier batters.

“We now go into our conference schedule and hopefully this tough pre-conference schedule will have us well-prepared for league competition,” Keister said.

Goshen will travel to Winona Lake on Tuesday afternoon for a double-dip with Grace College to open 2006 MCC play. The first game is slated to begin at 1 p.m., weather permitting.