TIFFIN, Ohio – Junior Austin Kordik (West Chicago, Ill./Community) and freshman Kevin McCune (Munster, Ind./Andrean) each went a 4-7 combined in both games and freshman Kyle Freel (Dyer, Ind./Lake Central) picked up a huge complete game victory in Game 2 as the Purdue Northwest baseball team split their doubleheader against Tiffin at Heminger Field in Tiffin, Ohio.

GAME 2: PNW 5, TU 3
Tiffin struck first in the bottom of the first inning after Alec McCurry hit a sacrifice fly which scored Brayden Callihan. Freel escaped a huge jam in the second inning, after Tiffin loaded the bases. PNW got out of the inning with a double-play. Tiffin expanded their lead in the bottom of the third after Jack Dennis smoked a home run to right center.

Junior Evan Finke (Columbus, Ind./Snead State CC/Columbus North) put PNW on the scoreboard in the fourth after hitting a single up the middle scoring sophomore Alex Batistatos (Hobart, Ind./Hobart). Kordik tied the game at 2 after ripping a double down the right field line scoring Finke. PNW was not done as senior Mike Mikulich (Hebron, Ind./Hebron) gave PNW a 4-2 lead after hitting an RBI single up the middle.

Tiffin was not done as the Dragons got one back in the fifth inning after Ryan Thomas reached on an error to make it 4-3. PNW was able to answer as the Pride got an insurance run in the sixth inning after Kordik picked up a huge RBI single to right scoring Finke. 

Freel (5-3) picked up the win in game 2, tossing a complete game, throwing all seven frames, allowing three runs (two earned), scattering five hits, issuing three walks and striking out three.

GAME 1: TU 7, PNW 6
Sophomore Tyler Kenjic (Hobart, Ind./Hobart) put PNW on the scoreboard in the third with an RBI single to left scoring sophomore Hunter Thorn (Portage, Ind./Portage) from third. Finke extended the lead to 2-0 after ripping an RBI single also to left.

Tiffin got one back in the bottom of the inning after a double by Kyle Lento. The Dragons once again answered with one of their own in the bottom half after Kyle Vance ripped an RBI single to left scoring Aaron McCurry.

PNW got it right back in the fourth inning as Thorn triple down the right field line then Kevin McCune (Munster, Ind./Andrean) put the Pride ahead 3-1 after an RBI double to center. 

Mikulich busted the game open in the fifth after a 2-RBI single to right scoring Jonny Albers (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) and Finke. 

PNW senior starter Jimmy Skiff (Dyer, Ind./Andrean) took the no decision on the mound, after he went five and a third for the Pride, allowing five runs (all earned), scattered five hits, no walked batters and striking out three.

Tiffin rallied in the sixth inning scoring five runs, three off Skiff and two on freshman Chad Patrick (Hebron, Ind./Hebron). Noah Heard narrowed it down to 6-4 after his double to right center. Lento brought the Dragons within one after he also doubled to right center.

Patrick took the loss (3-4) in game 1, after pitching two-thirds of an inning, allowing two runs and scattered three hits and striking out one.

Zach Campbell got the big hit for Tiffin, giving the Dragons the lead with an 2-RBI single up the middle to put them ahead 7-6.

Purdue Northwest (18-20 overall, 8-14 GLIAC) concludes their four-game series against Tiffin Sunday as the nine-inning game is scheduled at 11 a.m. CT start at Heminger Field in Tiffin, Ohio.