(Game 1 Stats) (Game 2 Stats) Goshen, IN — A two and a half hour rain delay and subsequent 1-3 loss were the only downfalls for the Goshen College baseball team this weekend, as the Leafs registered a Saturday split to take three of four total games from Mid-Central Conference foe Grace College.
A cold rain fell early and often over the Goshen College Baseball Complex on Saturday, but thanks in large part to the Leafs’ newly purchased infield tarp, the games would go on. Goshen (6-20, 3-5) came up short against Grace only in Saturday’s initial defeat, as the Leafs rolled to an 8-3 win in Game 2.
“These wins over Grace keep us in a good position to make a (MCC Tournament) playoff spot at the end of the year,” said Goshen head coach Josh Keister. “We just need to focus on playing well and putting together more wins.”
After impressive offensive displays in Goshen’s two wins at Grace on Thursday (click here for related article), Keister’s team again put forth the necessary scoring opportunities in Saturday’s soggy, first game. Four hits, including five walks and two Grace errors, helped Goshen to 17 total base runners on the day, though the Leafs would push just one across and leave 12 stranded. Sophomore pitcher Aaron Keister (0-7) was solid in his own right, going the full seven innings while allowing just six hits and three earned runs while striking out six Lancer batters. In the end, however, it was Goshen’s inability to push scores across the plate — the only instance of such futility against Grace — that kept Keister’s squad from the four-game sweep.
“No question, we had plenty of opportunities in today’s first game,” Keister said. “Obviously we need to learn to execute better in RBI situations, especially with runners on third base and less than two outs. If we are able to do that, we win both games today.”
Goshen’s lone run occurred in the sixth inning, when junior Darren Tronovich led the inning off after being hit by a pitch. After freshman Cal Schlabach was inserted to pinch run, the Leafs took advantage of a Kyle Koch (sophomore) single and an Ian Swartz (junior) fielder’s choice to push Schlabach across.
Koch, junior Ian Swartz, freshman Zach Miller and freshman Aaron Coy combined for Goshen’s four hits on the game, all singles. Junior Mike Malott, Zach Miller and Tronovich all reached base after being hit by pitches.
Naturally, Goshen’s offense returned to past form in the day’s second contest, as Keister’s squad rolled up eight hits and committed no errors in the Leafs’ 8-3 win. Senior Dann Hunt (2-3) picked up the pitching win, while freshman Matt Fyfe (1) picked up his first career save, and Goshen’s second overall save of the year.
A four-run, third inning helped offset Grace’s lone score in the top of the stanza, asIan Swartz, freshman Sean Sears, Coy and Tronovich all registered RBI. Tronovich pushed two across, belting a two-out double that scored freshman Derek Swartz and Coy. Goshen would add a run in the fifth and three in the sixth before the smoke cleared, as Coy continued his big day with a 3-4 performance at the plate and a pair of RBI. Tronovich and freshman Kraig Miller each doubled twice, putting up 2-3 and 2-4 numbers at the plate, respectively.
“We struggled a little bit early on, but we were able to put some hits together to get ourselves a big conference win,” Keister said.
Goshen now takes a brief hiatus out of MCC competition, when the squad will host Robert Morris College for a double-header on Tuesday. Game time for the first of the pair is set for 1 p.m.
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Freshman Aaron Coy