Tigers Drop Twinbill Against NCAC West Rival Wabash

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. - The Wittenberg Tigers opened a four-game North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) West Division series at Wabash with losses by scores of 16-4 and 10-6.

The doubleheader sweep dropped the Tigers to 3-10 overall and 0-4 in the NCAC West, heading into two more games at Wabash on Easter Sunday. The Little Giants improved to 9-12 overall and 2-4 in the league.

In the opener, Wittenberg scored four times in the second inning to take a 4-1 lead, but it was short-lived as Wabash scored five times in the second and third innings to jump back in front. The Little Giants then broke the game open in the fifth and sixth innings with a combined 10 runs.

Wittenberg collected nine hits - all singles. Leading the way on offense were sophomore Dalton Boucher (Granville, Ohio/Granville), freshman Timmy Bates (Westerville, Ohio/South) and freshman Eli Goolsby-Broschart (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina Memorial) with two hits each. Senior Aaron Patrick (Eldorado, Ohio/Tri-County North) drove in a pair.

Senior Frank Sullivan (Milford, Ohio/Milford) took the pitching loss after allowing eight runs (seven earned) in four innings.

Game 2 also started well for the Tigers, who held a 3-0 lead through the first four innings. Wabash then broke out with three runs in the fifth, five in the sixth and two more in the seventh inning of the nine-inning nightcap.

Patrick went 3-for-3 with two runs batted in and senior Mike Burgher (Birmingham, Mich./Seaholm) added two hits and two RBIs as well. Bates also had two hits and sophomore Cal Slusarz (Chesterland, Ohio/West Geauga) rounded things out with a pair of runs scored.

Senior Stu Haley (Winnetka, Ill./New Trier) started and took the loss, going five innings and allowing five runs (two earned). He was followed to the mound by four relievers, including Slusarz, who tossed two scoreless frames to close the game out.

Written By: Ryan Maurer