WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Wittenberg Tigers split a pair of one-run decisions with Hope on the second-to-last day of their annual Spring Break trip to the Sunshine State.

Hope staved off a Wittenberg rally in the opener to claim a 5-4 decision. In the nightcap, the Tigers turned to sophomore Jordan Hitt (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern) for a response and he turned in a complete-game shutout. The results left Wittenberg with a record of 2-5, heading into the trip finale against Rockford at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

In Game 1, Hope jumped on top with three runs in the second inning off freshman Dalton Boucher (Granville, Ohio/Granville), who was making his first collegiate start. Wittenberg answered with a three-spot in the top of the third, but Hope tacked on a run in fourth and another in the sixth. The Tigers got one run back in the top of the seventh on a two-out RBI single by senior David Moore (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe), but Wittenberg was unable to get the equalizer.

Boucher went five innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and four walks. Junior Frank Sullivan (Milford, Ohio/Milford) gave up one run in one inning of relief.

Offensively, junior shortstop Zac Wilson (Eaton, Ohio/Eaton) continued to do a fine job setting the table from his lead-off spot, collecting a pair of base hits and scoring runs both times. Senior Tyler Hutchinson (Lebanon, Ohio/Cincinnati Moeller) went 2-for-3 with a run and Moore drove in a pair with two hits.

The nightcap went Wittenberg's way thanks primarily to the work of Hitt, who scattered eight singles and two walks in seven innings. He was aided by three double plays from the Tiger defense.

Hutchinson accounted for the lone run batted in as he doubled down the right field line to score Boucher, who had reached base with a double of his own with one out in the third inning.