The opening contest of the 2022 Great Midwest Baseball Tournament saw a little bit of everything on Wednesday (May 11) at Prasco Park.
The #6 seed Walsh Cavaliers rallied and knocked off the #1 seed Tiffin Dragons 4-3 in ten innings.
In the first inning, Walsh took advantage of an error on a dropped third strike. With one out, Brady Maciak reached on an error by the catcher on the third strike. Maciak rounded the bases on back-to-back singles, scoring on a RBI single by Jacob Beachy.
Tiffin scored once in the second, third and fifth inning for a 3-1 lead over the Cavaliers.
Facing the Dragons' starter, Maciak walked with one out in the eighth inning. The next batter, Joey Holiga blasted a two-run home run to left center field - a 380 foot shot to tie the game.
The Dragons put two runners on base in the bottom of the eighth inning but could not muster a run. A fielder's choice and double play got the Cavaliers out of the inning with a 3-3 score.
Walsh walked the tight rope and got another scoreless inning in the ninth inning. After a flyout, Tiffin loaded the bases with a double, single and intentional walk. A wild pitch moved the runners forward but the winning run was erased at the plate from Jarret Lyon to Cole Brogan. A called third strike sent the game into extras.
In the tenth inning, Walsh led off with a walk by Andrew Morse. Davis Burick tried to sacrifice bunt Morse to second but ended up reaching on a bunt single. A fielder's choice put runners on the corners with two outs. Joey Holiga grounded a ball to the third baseman. The third baseman sailed the ball over the catcher's head at the plate, allowing Morse to score.
Tiffin started the tenth inning with a single. The runner moved to second on a bunt. The Cavaliers stranded the runner at second base to end the game. Walsh won the game 4-3.
Holiga got two hits on the day with three RBI, including the game-tying blast.
Brant Alazaus started and went six innings on the mound. He allowed three runs on eight hits with one walk. He struck out nine batters. Cole Brogan followed with three scoreless innings. Alex Beyerle earned the save with one scoreless inning of work.
Walsh will play Thursday (May 12) at 1:15 PM on Legacy Field. The Cavaliers will face the loser of the Trevecca Nazarene/Kentucky Wesleyan contest.
Original source can be found here.
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