(Game Stats) Fort Wayne, IN — With the Mid-Central Conference season-opener just two days away, the Goshen College baseball team gave its best effort at NCAA Division I Indiana University Purdue University-Fort Wayne Tuesday afternoon, dropping a 3-13 decision to the host Mastodons.
The Leafs were looking to duplicate a rich performance at IPFW last season, as stellar pitching kept Goshen close in a 1-2 loss (click here for related article). With three freshmen manning the mound Tuesday, however, Goshen was pushed into a high-octane contest: The teams combined for 25 hits — Goshen knocked out nine — while IPFW proved more efficient.
“We played fairly even with a Division I team for awhile but giving up two many free base runners caught up with us eventually,” said Josh Keister, Goshen head coach. “We hit the ball okay with 10 hits but didn't bunch them well and didn't produce many runs. This was a good preparation game for us, though, as we start our conference schedule Thursday.”
Perhaps sensing a multitude of scores would be a necessity, Keister opened the game with aggressive coaching. After senior Nate Colclasure belted a double to provide Goshen with its first base runner in the opening inning, freshman Dustin Swartzel followed with a single. As Colclasure approached third, Keister waved him home, hoping to strike first. IPFW placed a perfect throw to the plate, however, ending the inning while knocking out the Leafs’ first scoring opportunity.
Freshman Zach Miller (0-2) was able to hold IPFW scoreless through the first two innings of work as Goshen’s starting pitcher, but a four-run, third inning from the Mastodons would start the offensive push. After Miller allowed a double, hit an IPFW batter and gave up a single to start the fourth inning, Keister brought in freshman Shane Kurtz. Miller finished giving up six runs on six hits, while Kurtz gave up a pair of runs in closing out the fourth inning.
Freshman Matt Fyfe finished the game on the mound for Goshen, allowing five runs — four of which were earned — in three and one thirds innings of work.
Goshen was able to tack its runs in the sixth and eighth innings, as freshman Sean Sears continued to be a force at the plate. After singling in the second inning, Sears pushed across a run a pair of scores in the sixth on another single. A ground out to the pitcher allowed junior Ian Swartz to score in the eighth inning.
On the afternoon, Sears finished with a 2-3 effort at the plate, driving in all three Goshen runs. Colclasure, Swartzel and freshman Kraig Miller all finished with two hits for the game, while Colcalsure, Kraig Miller and junior Ian Swartz all scored. Colclasure’s first-inning double was Goshen’s only extra-base hit of the contest.
The Leafs will now take one day of prep before hosting its first home contest — and MCC tilt — of the season on Thursday, as Spring Arbor University will visit the Goshen College Baseball Complex for a double header. Game time for the first of two is set for 1 p.m.
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Freshman Sean Sears