Bexley, Ohio – After winning in dramatic fashion last Saturday night against Trine, the Wittenberg University Baseball team dropped both ends of a non-conference doubleheader at Capital University on Tuesday (3/19), falling 4-2 in game one, before dropping a 6-5 decision against the Crusaders in the nightcap. The Tigers now own an overall non-conference record of 5-6 on the season, with the first conference games of the campaign slated for Saturday, March 30th at Denison.
Game One Breakdown
The Tigers fell behind early in game one as Capital put up a three spot in the first inning, but sophomore right-hander Rusty Hayhurst settled in after that and didn't allow another run in his 6.2 innings of work. With Hayhurst holding the Crusaders at bay, the Tigers did pull within one at 3-2 in the top of the fourth inning on a two-run single to left field off the bat of freshman JC Bricker. However, the Crusaders got another run back in the bottom of the eighth and held the Tigers scoreless over their final five at-bats to secure the 4-2 win in game one. Sophomores Jack Hollinshead and Jack Siefert both went 2-for-4 at the plate in game one, while Hayhurst closed out his outing by striking out three, issuing four walks and allowing three earned runs on four hits in 6.2 innings of work.
Game Two Breakdown
After falling behind early in game one, it was the Tigers turn to light up the scoreboard first in the nightcap as Wittenberg plated three runs in the top of the first inning. Siefert was credited with the first RBI as he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, while sophomore Mason Davis stepped to the plate just two batters later and laced a single into left field that drove home Hollinshead and sophomore Hayden Knox. After Capital scored two runs of its own in the bottom of the first, Wittenberg extended its lead out to 5-2 in the top of the fourth inning on a two-run single through the left side from Hollinshead. Unfortunately, that would be the final time the Tigers crossed the plate in the game, and after a two spot in the bottom of the fifth, and another solo run in the sixth, Capital was able to hold on for the narrow one-run victory in game two. Hollinshead again paced the Wittenberg lineup in game two, going 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and one run scored, while sophomore Gage Carpenter went 3-for-5 at the plate in game two with two runs scored. While Capital did come away with the win, Wittenberg pitchers combined for nine strikeouts in the nightcap, led by junior right-hander Adam Mays setting four Crusaders down on strikes over the final 2.1 innings of the game.
Up Next
Wittenberg remains on the road this weekend for a DH at Bluffton on Saturday at 1:00 p.m., before returning home next Wednesday (3/27) for a 6:00 p.m. contest against Wilmington under the lights at Carleton-Davidson Stadium in Springfield.