Springfield, Ohio – The Wittenberg wrapped up the 2019 regular season with a hard-fought doubleheader series against the Battling Bishops of Ohio Wesleyan from Carleton Davidson Stadium on Sunday evening. The Tigers went back and forth with OWU in game one, falling by a final of 8-6. Wittenberg bounced back to take game two from the Bishops with a 9-5 win and evening the series at a game apiece. The Tigers posted 14 hits through the two games, as Jack Siefert started the day going 2 for 5 from the plate with a home run and a double in game one. Matt Baker, Jack Hollinshead, and David Hamrick each tallied two hits in the series finale for the Red and White. Hollinshead helped push the Tigers past the Bishops with a home run in the bottom of the fifth of game two, giving Wittenberg the 5-4 advantage. Wittenberg wraps up the season with an overall record of 19-16 and 9-9 in NCAC action. This is the best overall record the Red and White have compiled since the 2013 season after compiling a 23-16 and the best finish in NCAC play since the 2011 season when the Tigers posted a 9-5 record.
Game Breakdown
Wittenberg came back in game one after OWU took an early 2-1 lead after the first inning of action. The Tigers posted two runs in the bottom of the third, coming off the Siefert homer, taking the 3-2 lead. Ohio Wesleyan responded with two runs of their own in the top of the fifth to take the 4-2 advantage. An RBI double to left field by Siefert brought the game back to even at 4-4. Mason Davis put Wittenberg back on top with an RBI groundout to the left side, bringing home Hollinshead and giving the Tigers the 5-4 advantage. A four-run seventh put OWU back on top, as the Tigers were only able to push one across in the eighth.
Jace Barga tossed six innings for the Tigers allowing four hits and striking out one. Adam Mays came on to strike out four in three innings of work with three hits allowed.
Wittenberg opened up game two by holding OWU scoreless through the first three innings of action. The Tigers would get on the board with a three-run third inning, as Greg Vanerstrom and David Hamrick came across to score while taking advantage of the OWU error. After OWU pushed across four runs to regain the lead, scoring three in the fourth and one in the fifth. Wittenberg regained the lead with two runs in the fifth, coming off the Hollinshead two-run homer. The Tigers kept the offense alive with three more runs coming across in the sixth inning, as Tanner Boros came home after the Bishops error. Baker executed the bunt single to perfection, allowing Hamrick to come around for the second Tiger run of the inning. Hollinshead capped off the rally with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Vanerstrom for the third Tiger run of the inning. Boros would bring home the final Tiger run of the game with a sacrifice fly, sealing the 9-5 Wittenberg win.