GRANVILLE, Ohio - Amidst the swirling snow flurries that would eventually postpone the final two games of this key North Coast Athletic Conference West Division series between Wittenberg and Denison, the Tigers found a gem in the form of a one-hit shutout pitching performance from freshman Bobby Ciucki (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman).
Ciucki rallied the Tigers when they needed it most, tossing his complete-game masterpiece after the Tigers had fallen one run short in the opener 6-5. With Saturday's schedule postponed until April 29 due to bitterly cold temperatures and on-again, off-again snow showers, Wittenberg hits that halfway point of the 2007 NCAC West season with a 4-4 record.
It could have been worse. Denison jumped on Wittenberg pitching for six runs in the second inning of Friday's opener and went on to win 6-5 despite managing just four hits in the game. The Tigers pulled to within one run in the seventh inning, but despite three hits from junior Matt Steinke (Wapakoneta, Ohio/St. Mary's Memorial) and two runs batted in from freshman Chris Dorka (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) Wittenberg came up just short.
That left it to Ciucki, and he responded with a dominating performance. He faced just one Denison batter over the minimum in seven innings, allowing one hit and two walks. However, the Big Red hit into a double play and also had a runner caught stealing.
Offensively, the Tigers managed just five hits of their own and recorded just two RBI, but it was more than enough with Ciucki on the mound. Steinke and freshmanKory Winter (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto) scored two runs each and Dorka knocked in a pair for a second straight game.
The Tigers are now 10-12 overall, heading into a pair of nine-inning non-conference mid-week games on Tuesday and Wednesday. Transylvania comes calling at Carleton Davidson Stadium on Tuesday and Thomas More is the foe on Wednesday. Then Wittenberg plays host to Earlham for four games April 14-15.