SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Tigers' home opener had all the ingredients of a game to remember, considering the unseasonably warm temperatures and an opportunity to gear up for the conference slate that kicks off this weekend. Instead, head coach Jay Lewis saw another outing he would much rather forget as the Tigers fell to NAIA scholarship program Urbana, 17-7.
With most of the offensive highlights going to the Tigers' collegiate neighbors to the north, sophomore Michael Yednock (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) tried to spark a Wittenberg rally. Down 9-0 in the sixth, Yednock helped propel a five-run outburst that had the Red and White right back in the contest. An RBI and run scored highlighted his 2-5 day at the plate. In the end, however, Urbana would respond with seven of their own in the seventh to put the game to bed.
Much of the Tiger picthing staff, using the day as a bullpen session, found trouble against the stout-batting Blue Knights. Junior Joel Assenheimer (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) pitched a quiet ninth, not allowing a run in the process.
Now the Tigers shift their focus to Earlham, who visits Carleton Davidson Stadium for a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22. Both twinbills begin at 1 p.m.
Written by: Ben Bradley, SID Assistant