SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - In the first of two doubleheaders on Saturday, the Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops and Wittenberg Tigers sped through two games, both of which were one-sided, ending in a split just before rain started falling in Springfield. Game one ended in favor of the Bishops by a 13-0 margin, while the Tigers took the deuce in a five run shutout.
It was all Bishops in game one, as they racked up 13 runs against a faltering Tiger pitching staff. Sophomore Bobby Ciucki (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) made the start, and pitched five innings, giving up three runs, all earned, on four hits before getting relief from freshman Manny Rodriguez (Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinnett). Rodriguez gave up seven runs, five earned, in 1-1/3 innings of work, and sophomore A.J. Bush (Troy, Ohio/Troy) finished things off with a two-out appearance in the seventh, charged with three runs on two hits.
The Tigers hit safely just four times in the opener, and senior Jeremey Fruhwirth (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek) was the batter for three of them in three at-bats. His .500 batting average at the beginning of the week was enough to lead the conference at last report, and he has gone 6-for-15 in the last three games to stand at .480 currently.
Game two was decidedly different, as junior Tim Antil (Brookville, Ohio/Northmont) threw a complete game, three-hit shutout to silence the bats of Ohio Wesleyan. He struck out four while walking just one, and with the win moves to 3-2 on the season, leading the team in innings pitched and second in ERA at 2.65 among pitchers who have pitched 20 or more innings.
Junior right fielder Patrick Williams (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield), who had recently been in a mini-slump, worked hard in the latter game to break out, batting 2-for-3 with two RBI, adding a stolen base for good measure. Senior catcher Matt Steinke (Wapakoneta, Ohio/St. Mary's Memorial) matched with a 2-for-3 of his own with an identical two RBI.
Weather permitting, the Tigers and Bishops will take to the field for another doubleheader on Sunday at noon.