Meadville, Pennsylvania – Despite dropping a 6-2 decision in game one, the Wittenberg University Baseball team picked up a key North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) split on Saturday afternoon after picking up a 4-1 victory in game two behind a strong pitching performance from sophomore Tanner Griggs for the second time this week. The Tigers now own an overall record of 17-14 on the season and are an even 7-7 in league play, putting them right in the mix for one of the final two spots currently up for grabs for the upcoming NCAC Baseball Tournament, set for May 9-11, at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio.
Game One Breakdown
The Tigers bats were held in check for the better part of game one as they were limited to just three hits over the first eight innings of action, before plating two runs on five hits in the top of the ninth inning. However, it wasn't enough as Allegheny struck for three runs in the second, two in the fifth and one more in the seventh to secure the 6-2 game one victory. After being held scoreless over the first eight innings, the Tigers strung together five-straight hits in the top of the ninth to push their two runs across, which included back-to-back RBI singles to center field off the bats of junior Patrick Kenny and sophomore Tanner Boros. On the mound, senior left-hander Jace Barga dropped to 3-2 on the season after striking out three and allowing six runs (four earned) on 13 hits in 7.0 total innings of work. Sophomore DH Mason Davis had three of the Tigers' eight hits in the game, while Kenny also finished with multiple hits on the day by going 2-for-4 at the plate, which included the RBI single in the ninth.
Game Two Breakdown
For the second time in a span of five days, sophomore right-hander Tanner Griggs tossed an absolute gem to lead the Tigers in a 4-1 game two victory over the Gators. After striking out 13 and allowing just one run on one hit in Monday's 11-1 win over Kenyon, Griggs once again delivered on Saturday in Pennsylvania, this time striking out nine and allowing just one run (unearned) on three hits in 8.0 innings of masterful work. The win pushed Griggs record to 4-2 on the season, while junior right-hander Adam Mays picked up his fourth save of the season after tossing a scoreless ninth inning for the Tigers. After the bats were held in check in game one, the Tigers also erupted for 11 hits in the game two victory, led by sophomore Jack Siefert going 3-for-5 at the plate, which included an RBI single in the fifth inning. Classmate Jack Hollinshead also finished the day 2-for-4 at the dish with an RBI double to center in the fifth, while sophomore Hayden Knox drove home the Tigers' first run on a single up the middle in the second. Junior Ryan Probst also drove in a run for the Tigers on a squeeze play in the second inning that scored Knox from third base.
Up Next
The Tigers will return to Carleton Davidson Stadium tomorrow (4/28) for a non-conference doubleheader against Rose-Hulman, before returning to action on Wednesday (5/1) for another key NCAC DH, this time traveling to Wooster for a 12:00 p.m. start.