HIRAM, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers got the bats going in time to salvage a split at Hiram on the first day of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Crossover Weekend.
The Terriers held on for a 12-10 decision in the opener, but Wittenberg's bats were too much in the nightcap as the Tigers rallied for a 14-7 victory. The two teams will play the rubber game of the series on Sunday, with the winner claiming ninth place in the final NCAC standings.
In the opener, senior starting pitcher Stu Haley (Winnetka, Ill./New Trier) struck out nine batters in 5.1 innings, but Hiram countered with eight hits and four walks to push 10 runs across the plate (eight earned). Sophomore Trent Champlin (Gahanna, Ohio/Lincoln) was the Tigers' third reliever, and he tossed a pair of scoreless innings to nearly allow Wittenberg's offense to rally for the win.
The Tigers pounded out 12 hits in the game, highlighted by home runs off the bats of freshmen Timmy Bates (Westerville, Ohio/South) and Eli Goolsby-Broschart (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina Memorial). Bates drove in four runs in the game, while junior Will Cousins (Medfield, Mass./Medfield) scored three times and senior Zac Wilson (Eaton, Ohio/Eaton) set the table with two hits and two runs from his leadoff position.
Game 2 went Wittenberg's way thanks to a nine-run second inning. By game's end, the Tigers offense had collected 14 hits, highlighted by a grand slam by Cousins in the decisive second frame.
Senior Aaron Patrick (Eldorado, Ohio/Tri-County North) contributed a career-high four hits in the game and Bates scored three times. At the bottom of the order, freshman Erik Olson (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy) went 2-for-3 and scored twice.
Senior Frank Sullivan (Milford, Ohio/Milford) allowed six runs (five earned) on 11 hits and four walks. He struck out eight batters before giving way to freshman Corbin Dennis (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington), who closed the game out with three strong innings.
Written By: Ryan Maurer