WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - There's no questioning that the 2009 Tigers cannot blame their slow start on a lack of offense. After a day of rest, another shootout turned against Wittenberg in their Spring Break trip to Winter Haven, Fla., as the Tigers fell victim to a late inning Mount Union rally in a 13-12 loss.
Poised early in the contest, the Tigers posted five runs in the second and a six-spot in the third to claim a commanding 12-6 lead. A rough seventh inning for the Tiger bullpen combined with timely hitting for the Purple Raiders, spelled disaster for the Red and White. Sophomore pitcher Jordan Kegler (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) got the call, battled through six innings, leaving the game with a potential win in his pocket.
Five home runs between the two teams, including jacks from J.T. Thompson (Clayton, Ohio/Northmont) and Stefan Kegler (Columbus, Ohio/Thomas Worthington), set the tone in a game that saw 32 total hits. Kegler's two-run blast was part of a three-hit, three RBI day for the sophomore. Five-hole hitter Matt Hampp (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) also broke into the multi-RBI category, with a pair on two hits. Hampp also scored in both the second and third innings, while Thompson extended his hitting streak to six straight to start the 2009 season.
In the end, however, the Raider rally snuffed out the Tigers' hopes of getting back on track with the trip winding down. A doubleheader with Bethany Lutheran awaits on Friday, March 13 at 9 a.m. before Wittenberg rolls back through Georgia on their return trip.
Written by: Ben Bradley, SID Assistant