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Steve Less

The Tiger baseball team had another rough week, but things ended on a positive note as a 10-game losing streak was ended by a fine pitching performance by freshman Steve Less (Sheffield, Ohio/Elyria Catholic). Less defeated defending NCAC West Division champion Ohio Wesleyan 3-1 in the finale of a four-game series Sunday in a game that the Bishops needed to secure an outright title.

The week started with a 13-9 loss to Ohio Northern on Monday, a game chronicled in last weeks All-Sports Release. Over the weekend, the Tigers lost three of four to Ohio Wesleyan, but only one of the game was not closely contested.

The Bishops captured the opener by an 11-0 count, but Saturdays nightcap was a barn-burner. Wittenberg fell behind several times, but on the strength of two two-run home runs by senior Ryan Born (Marion, Ohio/Pleasant) and a solo shot by sophomore Matt Foster (Granville, Ohio/Granville), Wittenberg pulled even with one out in the seventh inning. Then freshman Adam Keller (Mechanicsburg, Ohio/Mechanicsburg) helped put the Tigers ahead briefly, singling with two outs in the seventh inning to push across the go-ahead run as OWU committed an error. The Tigers couldnt hang on, however, as the Bishops scored twice in the bottom of the inning to win the game.

Keller and freshman K.R. Schlievert (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay) each had two hits, but the Tiger offense couldnt get much done in a 2-0 loss in Game 1 on Sunday. Sophomore Ryan Goldschmidt (Ft. Loramie, Ohio/Ft. Loramie) turned in a solid pitching performance, allowing just two runs on four hits and no walks in six innings. Keller and sophomore Tom Pickering (Newark, Ohio/Catholic) each collected RBI base hits to back Less fine pitching performance in the finale.

The Tigers round out the home portion of the regular season Wednesday with Senior Night at the Municipal Stadium Annex. Born, infielder Shane Thomas (Columbus, Ohio/South) and pitcher Adam Abraham (Granville, Ohio/Granville) will be honored prior to the game. The season concludes with a road game against Otterbein on Thursday.