Fort Myers, FL – The Wittenberg University baseball team wrapped up their time from the Sunshine State with two nine-inning games against the Rockford University Lions. Wittenberg took the first game on day one of the series by shutout decision, 11-0. The Tigers would fall in the final game of the shortened season, 11-8 on a day that saw a line-up of all 10 Wittenberg seniors taking the field one final time together. The Tigers tallied 15 hits between the two games. Aaron Fasano and Ryan Probst each logged a pair of hits on the day, with Fasano tallying two doubles and Probst knocking in two Tiger runs. Michael Flynn IV sparked the Tiger offense with his first collegiate home run, smashing a three-run shot over the left field fence.
Game One Breakdown
Wittenberg got the scoring started early against the Lions, putting up three runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Patrick Kenny forced the Rockford error, bringing home Gabe Stacy for the first Wittenberg run of the game. With the offense rolling and the Rockford defense rattled, Wittenberg added to their lead, as the Tiger runners advanced a base on the wild pitch. Dylan Jackson drove in the third Tiger run of the first inning, on a groundout to the left side, putting Wittenberg ahead, 3-0. Wittenberg sparked another offensive rally in the fifth inning, putting up four runs, beginning with the Stacy single to center, as Chase Whisner and Stacy scored on the Lion's fielding blunder. A failed pickoff attempt by the Lions and alert base running by Kenny put the Tigers ahead, 6-0. Wittenberg continued to take advantage on the base path, as Jack Hollinshead crossed home on the wild pitch. Stacy would get the final scoring rally started in the sixth inning, taking a hit-by-pitch with bases loaded, pushing across the seventh Tiger run. Another Rockford wild pitch allowed Wittenberg to add to their lead, taking a 9-0 advantage. Kenny locked up the win with the final RBI single, pushing across two Tiger runs, giving Wittenberg the 11-0 shutout win.
Cole Weaver and Joe Horoszko combined to shutout the Lions on the afternoon. Weaver tossed eight innings of shutout ball, protecting a no-hitter through 4.1 innings of work, allowing just two hits and striking out 10. Horoszko came in to complete the shutout, striking out two with no hits allowed.
Game Two Breakdown
Wittenberg was the first to strike, taking a 6-0 lead after the Red and White at-bat in the top of the third. The Tiger rally started with a three-run bomb from Flynn. Probst added to the Wittenberg advantage with a single back up the middle, scoring Kenny for the fourth Wittenberg run. Andrew Shanor forced a Rockford error with a hard-hit ball to the left side, driving home Probst and Fasano on the Lions miscue. Rockford responded with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning, having been outscored 17-3 through 12 innings of ball against the Tigers. The Lions added one more run in the fourth inning, cutting into the Tiger advantage with the Red and White holding a 6-5 advantage. A double to left by Fasano drove home Probst for the seventh Wittenberg run. Rockford found a late rally, recording six runs between the fifth and seventh innings. Wittenberg headed into their final at-bat trailing 11-7, Probst looked to get a rally going bringing hoe Kenny on the sacrifice fly to left, as the Red and White fell short 11-8 in their comeback effort.
Jacob Muhleman took the hill to start the game for Wittenberg, putting in four innings of work, with five hits allowed. Adam Mays closed out the final four innings, striking out three with 10 hits allowed.