Tigers Round Out Series At Wabash With Split

David Moore collected three hits in the Tigers' 8-4 win over Wabash. File Photo | Erin Pence
David Moore collected three hits in the Tigers' 8-4 win over Wabash. File Photo | Erin Pence

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. – The Wittenberg Tigers maintained their torrid early season pace, splitting a doubleheader against host Wabash to claim a four-game North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) West Division series 3-1.

After losing the opener 2-1 and winning the series finale 8-4, the Tigers are now 11-2 overall to go along with that 3-1 NCAC West record. Wabash stands 7-10 overall and 1-3 in the league.

The key to Wittenberg's outstanding start has been pitching, and this doubleheader was no different. Senior Kevin Tolle (Englewood, Ohio/Northmont) went the distance in the opener, allowing just two runs, one of which was unearned due to a passed ball. Tolle took the hard-luck pitching decision despite yielding just five hits and no walks in the game.

The Tigers offense generated seven hits, but they were all singles. Wittenberg stranded six baserunners in the game, managing to break though just once on an RBI single by sophomore Brandon Reaman (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont), who finished 3-for-3 in the game, in the fifth inning.

The pitching was solid again in the nightcap for the Tigers, starting with sophomore starter Frank Sullivan (Milford, Ohio/Milford), who overcame seven walks in 4.2 innings for his first win in the Red & White. He was the first of five Tiger hurlers to take the mound in the nine-inning contest, with sophomore Mike Burgher (Birmingham, Mich./Seaholm) turning in 2.1 innings of scoreless work in relief.

Offensively, Wittenberg pounded out 13 hits, including the first home run and the first triple of the season for senior Graham Wolff (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest), who finished with four runs batted in. Reaman added three hits in four plate appearances and scored three runs, while junior David Moore (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe) finished 3-for-5 with an RBI.