Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2
GOSHEN, Ind. – All the pieces finally came together at the right time for the Goshen College baseball team.
Behind a superb pitching performance by sophomore Aaron Coy, solid defense, and a few timely hits, the Maple Leafs picked up their first Mid-Central Conference victory in a 4-0 win over visiting Grace College.
The win snapped an eleven-game skid for Goshen, while a 22-11 win in the nightcap moved the Leafs into eighth place in the MCC, a game in front of Grace.
Big right-hander Aaron Coy was on his game early. After walking the first batter of the game, Coy retired the next nine in order. With two outs in the fourth, Combs hit a ball into right-center that Scott Szucs could not handle. Coy stranded Combs at second after getting the final out of the inning on a pop-up on the infield and sat down the next five he faced.
With one out in the sixth, Grace third-baseman Jansma hit a grounder between Goshen third baseman Zach Reed and shortstop Kraig Miller. Miller backhanded the ball deep in the hole and fired it to first. With a huge collective gasp from both sides, the umpire called "safe" on the bang-bang play.
While the infield single ended Coy's no-hit bid just five outs short of completion, it did little to deter the Maple Leafs from grabbing their first conference win. Coy gave up just the one hit in a complete-game shutout, while striking out seven.
Meanwhile, the Maple Leaf offense wasted little time getting on the board. After Ian Swartz led off the bottom of the first with a double to left, Kraig Miller ripped an RBI single up the middle to give Goshen a 1-0 lead.
The biggest blows came in the fourth as Coy led off the inning with a solo blast to left. Just two batters later, Zach Reed hit his fourth homer of the season to right-center. Goshen would add another run in the fifth when Darren Tronovich knocked home Swartz after another double.
The nightcap was a test of wills as the Maple Leaf seniors took charge to ensure their final home game at Goshen turned out as a win. Swartz went 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs, while fellow senior Tom McDowell had two hits and four RBIs.
Grace started the game strong with a pair of solo homers in the opening frame, but the Leafs responded with five in the bottom of the first and three more in the second to open a 8-3 advantage.
Swartz again led off the bottom of the first with a double. The drive to left-center – Swartz's 17th of the season – broke the Goshen College single-season record held by Nate Colclasure.
Grace responded in the third as the first six batters reached base. The Lancers used five hits in the frame to score six times and take a 9-8 lead.
The Maple Leaf offense took center stage for the final three innings. Two-run homers by Kraig Miller – his sixth of the year – and Tom McDowell – fourth of the season – along with another two-run double by Swartz put six runs on the board in the fourth.
Goshen forced the ten-run mercy rule in the sixth after six more runs off six hits put them up 22-11.
Brad Elam got the win as he came on to pitch three innings, giving up no earned runs and striking out three. Mark Springer pitched a scoreless sixth to finish it off for the Leafs.
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