Springfield, OH – The Wittenberg Tigers made the home debut from Carleton Davidson Stadium, hosting the Alma College Scots in a two-game series. The Tigers edged out two one-run wins over the Scots, taking the first game by way of a 3-2 decision. Wittenberg was forced to come back in game two against Alma, putting together an offensive onslaught in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to secure the 7-6 win. Wittenberg tallied 20 hits on the afternoon, with Chase Whisner going 4 for 7 through the two games, including his first home run of the season in game two.
In game one, Joe Horoszko provided seven innings of work on the mound for the Tigers. Horoszko allowed just seven hits and striking out five, while facing 29 Alma hitters. Though Alma was able to strike first, putting up their first run in the top half of the first. Wittenberg was quick to counter in the bottom of the second, the delayed steal from Jack Siefert left the Alma defense slow to react. With Whisner on third, the Scots attempts to take a stealing Siefert, allowed the first Tiger run to cross. A double from Matt Moore into the gap in right center plated Mason Davis and Ian Ash, extending the Tiger lead out to 3-1. Justin Maynard would come in with a bases loaded situation, earning his second save of the season and shutting the door on the Scots comeback effort.
Game two would turn into a slugfest between the Tigers and the Scots, with a near fresh Wittenberg lineup to start the second game. Wittenberg kept the bats hot heading into the second game, plating their first two runs in the bottom of the second. Whisner got the Tigers on the board with a two-run blast over the right-center fence. A six-run fifth inning by the Scots put the pressure back on the Wittenberg offense. The Tigers would chip away at the Alma advantage one hit at a time, starting with a single by the senior Siefert to bring around Whisner. Wittenberg strung three runs together in the seventh, starting with an RBI single from Lane Johnson. Mason Davis executed the sacrifice fly out to right, plating the Austin Morrow for the second run of the inning. Connor O'Malley shot a hard-hit ball that the Scots second baseman was unable to handle, as Johnson came home to score the third run of the inning. Morrow provided the game-sealing hit in the bottom of the eighth with a liner into center, bringing around Jared Burick.
Austin Luther took the ball to start game two on the mound, putting in 4.2 innings of work with seven strikeouts and just one hit allowed. Nick Cunningham would come for 3.1 innings of long relief, allowing two hits and striking out three, earning his first win of the season. Once again, the Tigers would call on Maynard to shutdown any final offensive efforts the Scots might have had. Maynard picked up his fourth save of the season, closing out the top of the ninth, facing four Alma batters with one hit allowed and fanning one.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will return to action on Tuesday, March 22, hosting Capital University from Carleton Davidson Stadium at 6:00 PM.