SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers broke out for a season-high 18 hits, but the clutch hit eluded them time and again over the final eight innings of an 8-7, 14-inning loss to visiting Wilmington.

Wittenberg fell to 10-27 with the loss, heading into a season-ending three-game series at home against Kenyon May 3-4. Wilmington improved to 4-28 with the win.

Offense ruled over the first six innings as each team scored seven times. The big blows were provided by senior Tyler Hutchinson (Lebanon, Ohio/Cincinnati Moeller) with an RBI double in the first inning and a solo home run in the third, senior Tyler Grau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) with a two-run single in the fifth, and senior David Moore (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe) with an RBI double in the sixth.

Nine different Tigers toed the rubber in the game, starting with sophomore Jordan Hitt (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern), who allowed one earned run in two innings of work. The last four Tiger pitchers did not allow an earned run as senior Jonathan Long (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) and junior Frank Sullivan (Milford, Ohio/Milford) each tossed a perfect inning of relief, followed by freshman Tyler Powell (Urbana, Ohio/Urbana) with three innings of one-hit pitching, and junior Stu Haley (Winnetka, Ill./New Trier).

Haley took the hard-luck pitching loss after allowing just two hits and striking out seven batters over the final three frames. The winning run crossed in top of the 14th inning after a triple and an error, both with two outs.

Hutchinson finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs, junior Zac Wilson (Eaton, Ohio/Eaton) went 3-for-6 with two runs from his lead-off spot, and freshman Cal Slusarz (Chesterland, Ohio/West Geauga) posted a 3-for-6 showing at the plate.