ALMA, Michigan—The Tigers opened up NCAA Division III Regional play against the Heidelberg Student Princes on Friday afternoon at Alma College. The Tigers managed to lead for almost the entirety of the NCAA game, but Heidelberg managed to come roaring back in the top of the seventh inning to plate four runs, and eventually take the game. Wittenberg now awaits the loser of Alma College and Benedictine University, as the game is set to take place at 3:30PM on Friday.

GAME BREAKDOWN

• The Tigers got on the board first, as freshman Missy Lee (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) drove a pitch in the right-center gap, plating Charlee Clark (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) in the bottom of the second inning.
• Wittenberg managed to extend their lead in the bottom of the third, after a Loren Combs (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin) and Katy Baumgartner (Fishers, Indiana/Cathedral) combination of singles, followed by a double-steal, turned into a run scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Casey Hobbs (Fairborn, Ohio/Carroll).
• The Tigers would hold on to their 2-0 lead until the top of the seventh, when the Student Princes managed to push across four runs and blank the Tigers in the bottom of the frame, winning the game.

KEY STATS

• Baumgartner paced the Tiger offense with three hits, while Combs and Lee each chipped in two in the loss.
• Chelsea Zang (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) went the distance for the Tigers in the regional game, scattering eight hits and only surrendering one earned run in the game.
• The Tigers infield produced three errors in the loss, as three of Heidelberg's runs were unearned.

TOURNAMENT INFO

• Wittenberg now awaits the lower of Benedictine and Alma, as the Tigers will be back in action on Saturday at 11:00AM.
•  Complete tournament information can be found HERE.