AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Pitching was a big question mark for the Wittenberg Tigers heading into the 2011 season. For one day at least, a trio of relatively inexperienced hurlers stepped up to answer the question as the Tigers claimed a pair of wins over previously unbeaten Waynesburg.
Wittenberg topped Waynesburg 6-3 and 8-3 to improve to 4-2 on the young season. While the Tigers' offense continued to show signs of life — after a season-opening shutout loss to Bethany Lutheran, Wittenberg has scored at least six runs in five straight games — the doubleheader sweep was keyed by the pitching of sophomore Zach Finke (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier), freshman Tyler Grau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) and junior Matt Rupert (Evanston, Ill./Evanston).
Finke went the distance in the opener, allowing five hits and just one walk against nine strikeouts, easily his career best. He allowed two earned runs, both in the first inning, but then held Waynesburg in check until the seventh inning, when the Yellow Jackets pushed across an unearned run.
Offensively, four Tigers posted multi-hit games, led by senior Mike Yednock (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) with a 3-for-3 performance. Sophomore Graham Wolff (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) went 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs, as did junior Jason Haunty (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington).
Grau got the start in the nightcap, and he pitched into the fourth inning, allowing four hits and three earned runs before giving way to Rupert, who picked up the win with a sterling relief effort. Rupert allowing just one hit, did not walk a batter and struck out a whopping eight of the 11 batters he faced.
Wittenberg led 4-3 going into the seventh inning before breaking the game open. Amazingly, the Tigers pushed four runs across in the top of the seventh on just one infield hit. Waynesburg pitchers walked three batters and hit another to open the floodgates.
Juniors Matt Hampp (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) and Andy Payton (Springfield, Ohio/North) each drive in two runs, while Wolff and Hampp each scored a pair. Payton and sophomore Grant Goodwin (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) each collected two base hits as the Tigers spread the offense around.