Zach Clark
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Wittenberg baseball team picked up an important win Saturday afternoon in taking down Denison 4-1 following a 7-2 loss in the first game of a doubleheader, preventing the Big Red from completing the sweep. The Tigers are now 9-11 overall and 5-5 in the North Coast Athletic Conference West Division.
For a second straight day, the Tiger middle infield continued to make incredible plays, including two ESPN-worthy moves from freshman second baseman Zac Daniels (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson).
In game two, Daniels made an unbelievable diving catch while running into short right field with his back to home plate, and earlier ranged far to his right to pick up a ground ball, leapt into the air and spun to just beat a Denison batter with a perfect throw to first.
Daniels also went 2-for-6 at the plate, while freshman shortstop Grant Goodwin (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) was 2-for-5 in another productive day for Tiger batters.
Leading the charge of offense was junior designated hitter Mike Yednock (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington), who went 2-for-6 to drive in two runs on the day. Junior left fielder Ray Noe (Dublin, Ohio/Jerome) matched with two RBIs to go with a walk and a stolen base.
Freshman center fielder Nick Van Dyne (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) went 2-for-7 with a double and three runs scored over the doubleheader. Other Tigers to notch RBIs included third baseman Stefan Kegler (Columbus, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) (1-2, BB) and junior Zach Spring (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty).
The big story from the mound was the impressive win posted by Zach Clark (Sidney, Ohio/Anna) in game two. Clark went six innings and allowed just one run on six hits, two walks and four strikeouts. It was his fouth appearance and third start of the season, and he moves to 2-0 following a complete-game win versus Earlham on March 21.
Senior Darrin Mumaw (Fort Loramie, Ohio/Fort Loramie) earned his third save with one hit and no runs in one inning of work in game two. Senior Joel Assenheimer (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) took the loss in game one, but Jim Clement (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) and Zach Finke (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier) both looked good in relief. Clement allowed three hits and no runs in 3-1/3 innings, followed by Finke, who scattered three hits in 2-1/3 innings.
Written by: John Strawn '07