GOSHEN, Ind. – In a mid-week three-game non-conference homestand, the Goshen College baseball team could not hold on in a thrilling 6-7 loss to Tri-State University before sweeping Great Lakes Christian in a double-header a day later.
Originally scheduled for a single game in Angola, Tuesday's matchup with Tri-State was moved to Goshen to find a playable field. On a cold, windy day, the two teams fought in a contest featuring six lead changes before the Maple Leafs came up one hit short in the 6-7 loss.
A day later, Goshen hosted upstart Great Lakes Christian and built some much-needed momentum sweeping the double-header in a pair of shutouts.
Tri-State 7, Goshen 6 (March 25) (Box Score)
Goshen would get on the board first as Ian Swartz led off the bottom of the first with a double to left-center. Swartz would score on an RBI groundout to give the Maple Leafs a 1-0 advantage, but Tri-State quickly responded with a pair in the top of the second on three hits and a Goshen error.
The Maple Leafs retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning as a Sean Doering single and a double by Darren Tronovich put two on with no outs. A Thunder error opened the gates for a big two-out double from Swartz as Goshen rallied for three runs to take a 4-2 lead.
Again, Tri-State immediately responded as a three-run homer by Justin Kurtz regained the lead for the Thunder at 5-4. Goshen would tie the game in the fifth on a two-out RBI single by Tronovich.
The contest stayed knotted at 5-5 until the bottom of the eighth. Sean Sears led the inning off with a single up the middle. Greg Meyer would pinch-run for Sears and stole second base. After advancing to third on an Adam Zehr single, Meyer would score the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Swartz.
Sophomore closer Kraig Miller came in to try and nail down the 6-5 win, but Tri-State had more magic up their sleeves. A Goshen error put the leadoff batter on base, before he was sacrificed to second for the first out. Kurtz would then ground out for the second out, but a single and a hit batter loaded the bases for Tri-State. Chad Nichter was able to come through in the clutch with a two-run double as Tri-State took a 7-6 lead in their final at bat. Goshen was unable to respond in the bottom of the ninth as they took the loss.
Shane Kurtz and Brad Elam came on in relief to thrown four innings of scoreless ball for the Maple Leafs. Swartz went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, while Adam Zehr went 3-for-4 in the nine-hole for Goshen.
Goshen 22, Great Lakes 0 (March 26) (Box Score)
Sophomore Matt Fyfe and freshman Josh Yates combined for a five-inning no-hitter as the Maple Leafs rolled in game one. The pair walked just one and struck out 10 in the win.
At the plate, catcher Darren Tronovich went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a double, while shortstop Cal Schlabach picked up two hits including a bases clearing double in the first.
Goshen 34, Great Lakes 0 (March 26) (Box Score)
Sophomore right-hander Caleb Kitchell tossed four shutout innings, giving up just one hit and striking out seven to earn the victory. Sean Sears came on to strike out the side in relief.
Scott Szucs led the Maple Leaf offense, going 5-for-6 with five RBIs, while Josh Yates, Sean Sears, and Joel King each tallied three hits in the game.
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Senior Ian Swartz