SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Wittenberg Tigers kicked off the home portion of their 2011 season with a pair of losses to Ohio Athletic Conference rival Mount Union.
The losses, by scores of 9-2 and 7-1, dropped Wittenberg to 7-6 overall, including an 0-3 mark since returning from a Spring Break trip to Winter Haven, Fla. The Purple Raiders improved to 4-8.
In the opener, Mount Union's Beau Smith handcuffed the Tigers' offense, allowing just four hits and one earned run in six innings before giving way to Cory Douglass, who allowed one run in the seventh. The Purple Raiders committed four errors in the game.
Freshman David Moore (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe) banged out two hits and senior Jason Haunty (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) reached base twice, stole a base and scored one of the Tigers' two runs. Haunty caught for three Wittenberg pitchers, starting with senior Zach Spring (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty), who allowed seven hits and four walks to take his first pitching loss of the 2011 season. He pitched into the fifth inning, allowing six earned runs, before juniors Ted Skalla (Winnetka, Ill./New Trier) and Brad Prewitt (Westerville, Ohio/South) closed the game out.
In the nightcap, Mount Union's Matt Lambert followed his teammate's lead, picking up the pitching victory by allowing five hits and two walks before needing relief help in the seventh inning. Once again, the Purple Raiders' defense did hurt them as they committed two miscues.
The Tigers committed three errors, but six of Mount Union's seven runs were credited as earned. Sophomore Kevin Tolle (Englewood, Ohio/Northmont) started and was charged with the loss after allowing eight hits and one walk in 3.2 innings. A trio of pitchers followed and held Mount Union without a hit in the final three innings.
Haunty finished with two hits and a run batted in, while senior Mike Yednock (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) reached base all four times. He collected two hits and two walks, and he scored the Tigers' lone run in the bottom of the first inning.