(Game 1 Stats) (Game 2 Stats) Goshen, IN — Looking to use Tuesday’s double-header against Robert Morris College to better prepare his squad for upcoming Mid-Central Conference competition, Goshen head coach Josh Keister may have benefited from an even better experience than he could have hoped.
After claiming an 8-0 lead in the first of two at the Goshen College Baseball Complex, the Leafs allowed the visiting Eagles to slowly crawl back in it, eventually tying the game at 8-8 while capturing all the momentum.
That was, until the bottom of the sixth inning.
Goshen (7-21, 3-5) responded with perhaps its most clutch performance of the season, driving home five runs in that stanza to secure a 13-8 Game 1 win over Robert Morris, the team’s fourth win in its last five games. And while a 2-8 defeat in Thursday’s second contest may have slowed the squad’s current surge, Keister said he believes that setback will turn out to be only minor in detail.
“I was really pleased with the way we hit the ball in the first game,” he said. “We had a lot of different guys get big hits. We have gradually been getting better and better offensively and I think we are finally turning the corner. This was a very good non-conference match up for us before four, big, conference games this Thursday and Saturday. I’m confident we will keep putting wins together.”
It appeared that a Game 1 win was imminent for Goshen following the second inning, when the Leafs pushed across a single-inning, season-best eight runs to capture an 8-1 lead heading into the third. Keister’s squad registered 13 plate appearances in the inning, with freshman Aaron Coy (a two-run homer) and classmate Kraig Miller (a two-RBI double) providing half of the team’s scoring.
Coy was equally as dominant in his role as starting pitcher, as the powerful right hander gave up just one run and four hits through three innings of work.
Slowly, however, Robert Morris began to crawl back into the mix.
A four-run fourth, a single score in the fifth and two runs in the sixth tied the game at 8-8, and Keister’s team had blown its largest lead of the season. Coy was relieved at the start of the sixth inning after striking out six and allowing six runs — only four of which were earned. Keister then turned to freshman Shane Kurtz, who lasted for just one out in the sixth: A lead-off groundout gave way to a solo home run, and Keister then turned to Kraig Miller, who took the mound from his spot at shortstop.
After a pair of errors allowed an Eagle base runner to advance all the way to third, a single scored Robert Morris’ second run of the inning. Miller was able to get out of a two-on jam, forcing a pair of fly outs to end the inning.
With all of the momentum on the Robert Morris side, Goshen wasted no time in taking it back.
A lead-off walk to junior Ian Swartz was all senior Nate Colclasure needed to break the tie, sending a double to left-center field to drive in Swartz. Kraig Miller followed with a line drive home run to left-center, sending in his third and fourth RBI of the day.
With an 11-8 lead now in tact, Goshen took advantage of a Darren Tronovich (junior) single and a Mike Malott (junior) double to drive in two more runs. Fittingly, it was Kraig Miller that closed out the game, allowing only a lead-off double in the seventh inning before forcing a ground out and a fly out. Freshman Sean Sears cut down an Eagle attempting to steal second in between those outs, finishing the game in style.
Miller (3-1) finished with a 2-2 effort at the plate in addition to garnering the pitching win, putting up a double and a home run in driving home four. Coy’s homer gave him a pair of RBI on the day. Malott and Colclasure each drove in two as well on 2-4 and 2-5 efforts.
With a blustery wind picking up to even greater strength in Game 2, it was Robert Morris that came up with the bulk of the offensive fireworks, as Goshen could only muster two runs against the Eagles’ pitching ace.
Freshman Matt Fyfe (0-3) suffered the pitching loss, going six innings while striking out three. Kurtz appeared for the second time, tossing one inning while allowing two runs off of three hits.
Goshen recorded both of its runs in the first inning of work, tying the score at 2-2. A sacrifice groundout from Miller and a single from Coy drove in the scores, as both Ian Swartz and Colclasure reached base on singles.
The Leafs did register a total eight hits on the game, as Colclasure and Ian Swartz each went 2-4 at the plate. Sears and Tronovich each doubled in 1-3 and 1-1 plate efforts, while Coy finished 2-4 with an RBI.
“We only scored two runs in Game 2 but we put together some good hits and quality at-bats off a very good pitcher,” Keister said.
UPDATE, 4/6/07: This week’s arctic blast has cancelled or postponed Goshen’s next three game dates, as snow and wind advisories throughout the Midwest have made playing baseball inadvisable. The Leafs are now scheduled to take the field again on Monday, Apr. 9 when the team will host MCC rival Indiana Wesleyan University. That double-header is slated to begin at 1 p.m. — a make-up date from the squads’ originally scheduled Saturday date. Check the Goshen College baseball schedule page for other make-up dates and times.
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Freshman Kraig Miller