Dazzling Pitching Performances Unable To Propel Tigers Past Scots

Chillicothe, OH – In their first North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament appearance since 2011, facing a familiar foe and perennial power the College of Wooster, the Wittenberg Tiger baseball team suffered a tough 5-3 loss from VA Memorial Park, on Thursday night. Each side collected eight hits with Jack Siefert and Luke Thomas being the only Tigers to collect multiple on the evening.

The Tiger offense came together for three runs in the fourth inning, a rally ignited by a Thomas double down the line in left. Siefert would be waved home, holding Dylan Jackson at third on hit. Jared Burick forced the Scots to make the out at first with a sharply hit ball to shortstop, plating the second Wittenberg run of the inning. One more single, this time coming off the bat of Parker Gryskevich through the left side scored the final Tiger run of the inning, making it a 4-3 ballgame.

Austin Luther took the bump to start the game for the Tigers with six innings and five hits allowed. Luther tallied seven of the team's 13 strikeouts on the night. Charlie Schafer would come in to close out the final three innings, fanning six Fighting Scots hitters with no walks and only one hit allowed. The duo of Luther and Schafer combined for the most K's in a game since April 22, 2019, when the Tigers defeated Kenyon, 11-1.

Last night was just the fourth meeting between the Tigers and Scots in first round of the NCAC Tournament. The Scots now hold a 1-3 advantage in the series. Wittenberg will move on to play the No. 4 seed DePauw Tigers in the must win game at 4:00pm from VA Memorial Park. This will be the first meeting of the Tigers' in NCAC Tournament competition.