(Game 1 Stats) (Game 2 Stats) Goshen, IN — With the opportunity of a Mid-Central Conference Tournament berth resting squarely on the outcome of Saturday’s double-header with neighboring rival Bethel College, there was a palpable sense of pressure under brilliant, sunny skies at the Goshen College Baseball Complex.
Perhaps it was just too much angst.
Goshen (12-35, 6-16) fell to the visiting Pilots by 1-7 and 6-17 scores Saturday afternoon, conceding any chance at a post-season berth in the process. With six teams advancing to next week’s MCC Tournament — the league’s top team receives an automatic bid to NAIA regional play and bypasses the event — Goshen needed two wins to tie the University of St. Francis and squeak into the post-season as the number six seed. Unfortunately for Leafs’ fans, the squad left 10 runners on base in the Game 1, 1-7 defeat, making the latter contest — a 10-run rule shortened, six-inning affair — a moot point.
“We knew that we needed a sweep today to get into the conference tournament, and we put a lot of pressure on ourselves,” said Josh Keister, Goshen head coach. “We left 10 runners on base (in the first game), and a big hit would have made it a very interesting game.”
Keister’s squad would record seven hits in Saturday’s first contest, equaling Bethel’s mark, but could not come up with the needed, timely blast. The Pilots opened with a two-run first inning against senior Dann Hunt (4-6), but a one-run tally in the bottom of the second cut the Bethel lead in half. A one-out double from freshman Sean Sears was followed by a two-out double from sophomore Kyle Koch, scoring Sears and putting yet another base runner in scoring position. Following a walk to junior Mike Malott, classmate Ian Swartz ended the inning with a ground ball that forced Malott out at second, one of four innings that concluded with two or more Leafs’ runners standing on the bags.
Bethel tacked on two more runs in the third inning and another in the fourth, making the score 5-1. Goshen looked to be in prime position for a comeback on numerous occasions — the team loaded the bases in the third inning — but a key hit remained elusive throughout.
With a pair of insurance runs tacked on by the Pilots in the top of the seventh, Goshen ended the contest hitting into a double play and flying out to centerfield.
Seven Goshen players accounted for the teams’ total seven hits, with only Sears and Koch charting extra-base knocks. Koch’s double drove in the Leafs’ only score, while Sears scored the run. Ian Swartz, senior Nate Colclasure, freshman Zach Miller, freshman Aaron Coy and junior Darren Tronovich all singled.
Knowing a post-season berth was mathematically impossible, Goshen did show grit early in the day’s second contest. After falling behind by a 4-0 score in the top of the first, Kraig Miller responded with a grand slam in the bottom of the inning, tying the contest and providing Leafs’ fans with the most exciting moment of the day. After Malott, Ian Swartz and Colclasure all reached base via walk, Miller came up with his first career grand slam and second dinger of the year.
Unfortunately for Goshen, it was a short-lived draw.
Bethel scored two runs in the second and five runs in the third, overshadowing single scores from Goshen in the bottom of both stanzas. Ian Swartz (0-3) took the pitching loss, going just two and one thirds innings before being pulled in favor of Kraig Miller. Miller eventually lasted two and two thirds innings before being relieved by freshman Caleb Kitchell, who retired the final inning with three fly outs after allowing just one hit.
“We obviously were a little deflated in Game 2 but we competed well early before running out of gas,” Keister said.
Kraig Miller led Goshen’s offensive efforts with a 2-3, four RBI effort at the plate, while Ian Swartz (1-2, one RBI), Tronovich (2-3, one run scored) and Koch (1-2, one RBI) all doubled. Colclasure scored a run on a 1-2 batting effort, while freshman Derek Swartz finished 1-3 with a run scored as well.
Goshen concludes its 2007 spring season with Saturday's defeats, finishing the campaign with a 12-35 overall record and 6-16 MCC mark.
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Freshman Kraig Miller