MYRTLE BEACH, SC – A four-home run day helped to give Wittenberg Baseball the lift it needed to best Rhode Island College, 7-5, in the first game of the Tigers' spring break trip on Saturday, March 8, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as part of the Ripken Experience Event at Croaker Field. 

James MacAuley (Grosse Pointe Woods, MI / Grosse Pointe North) struck for two solo homers, while Alex Nemunaitis (Perrysburg, OH / Ottawa Hills) and Parker Gryskevich (Brownsburg, IN / Brownsburg) each added another. Gryskevich's came with Xander Rodriguez (Salinas, PR / Franklin County) on board. MacAuley and Gryskevich led the team in RBIs with two each and Rodriguez scored two runs on the day. 

Rhode Island College put two on the board in the first, then added one more in each of the third, seventh, and ninth innings. Witt scored one in the second, two in the third, two in the seventh, and two more in the ninth for the victory. The Tigers had 11 total hits and no errors, while the Anchormen had eight hits and two errors.

The Tigers went with three right-handers on the mound for the day with starting pitcher Nate Floyd (Akron, OH / Copley) turning in five innings, Tommy Anthony  (Toronto, Ontario / Humberside Collegiate Institute) going three to pick up his first win of the season, and closer Charlie Schafer (Beavercreek, OH / Beavercreek) throwing the final inning for the save. The trio allowed eight hits and five runs, all earned, while walking four and striking out nine.

Rhode Island College pitchers allowed 11 hits and seven runs, five of which were earned. They also punched out seven batters and had no walks. With the victory, Witt improves to 5-2 on the season while Rhode Island drops to 2-2.

Next up, the Tigers will play Bridgewater State at 9 a.m. and Ursinus at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 9, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as part of the Ripken Experience Event at the Polo Grounds.

Written By: Ben Glassman '28