SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Wittenberg Tigers rallied multiple times before finding a way to closing out Capital with a three-run seventh inning to win their home opener, 8-7.
Eight different Tigers earned base hits, seven different players scored at least one run and six different players drove in at least one run as Wittenberg extended its best start since the 1995 season. Wittenberg is 10-1, while Capital dropped to 9-5.
Wittenberg trailed most of the game, but the Crusaders never managed to put together a big inning against five different Wittenberg pitchers. Capital collected eight base hits to go along with four Tiger errors, four hit batsmen, two wild pitches and a passed ball, but the Crusaders never scored more than two runs in an inning.
Baserunning was the culprit in at least two of the innings. In the first inning, Nate Campbell was doubled off first base on a close play, and in the fifth inning Brandon Natale hit a monstrous shot into the trees beyond the left field fence. However, he missed home plate as he crossed it and was ruled out after Wittenberg appealed the play.
After a 45-minute lightning delay in the seventh inning, the Crusaders appeared to take control of the game with a two-run double. But the Tigers bounced right back yet again, striking for three runs in the bottom of the inningon a double by sophomore Alex Lochard (Sidney, Ohio/Sidney), a single from sophomore Tyler Grau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) and suicide squeeze bunt by sophomore Matt Powell (Troy, Ohio/Troy).
The rally made a winner out of junior Kevin Tolle (Englewood, Ohio/Northmont), who gave up the go-ahead hit after the lightning delay but bounced back to pitch a scoreless eight inning. He was relieved by senior Matt Rupert (Evanston, Ill./Evanston), who struck out two Crusaders in a scoreless ninth to earn his first save after recording eight saves a year ago.
Tolle is now 3-0 on the season.
Offensively, Lochard, sophomore David Moore (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe), freshman Brandon Reaman (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont) and junior Graham Wolff (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest) each finished with two hits. Powell and Grauw each drove in two runs, and junior Grant Goodwin (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) scored twice.