Open And Shut Saturday Split With Bishops
In the first of two doubleheaders on Saturday, the Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops and Wittenberg Tigers sped through two games, both of which were one-sided, ending in a split just before rain started falling in Springfield.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - In the first of two doubleheaders on Saturday, the Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops and Wittenberg Tigers sped through two games, both of which were one-sided, ending in a split just before rain started falling in Springfield. Game one ended in favor of the Bishops by a 13-0 margin, while the Tigers took the deuce in a five run shutout.
It was all Bishops in game one, as they racked up 13 runs against a faltering Tiger pitching staff. Sophomore Bobby Ciucki (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) made the start, and pitched five innings, giving up three runs, all earned, on four hits before getting relief from freshman Manny Rodriguez (Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinnett). Rodriguez gave up seven runs, five earned, in 1-1/3 innings of work, and sophomore A.J. Bush (Troy, Ohio/Troy) finished things off with a two-out appearance in the seventh, charged with three runs on two hits.
The Tigers hit safely just four times in the opener, and senior Jeremey Fruhwirth (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek) was the batter for three of them in three at-bats. His .500 batting average at the beginning of the week was enough to lead the conference at last report, and he has gone 6-for-15 in the last three games to stand at .480 currently.
Game two was decidedly different, as junior Tim Antil (Brookville, Ohio/Northmont) threw a complete game, three-hit shutout to silence the bats of Ohio Wesleyan. He struck out four while walking just one, and with the win moves to 3-2 on the season, leading the team in innings pitched and second in ERA at 2.65 among pitchers who have pitched 20 or more innings.
Junior right fielder Patrick Williams (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield), who had recently been in a mini-slump, worked hard in the latter game to break out, batting 2-for-3 with two RBI, adding a stolen base for good measure. Senior catcher Matt Steinke (Wapakoneta, Ohio/St. Mary's Memorial) matched with a 2-for-3 of his own with an identical two RBI.
Weather permitting, the Tigers and Bishops will take to the field for another doubleheader on Sunday at noon.