Adrian, MI - In the first game of three against Adrian, the Tiger offense propelled the team to a big victory in the first of three games between the two teams on the weekend. In a game that saw only two Tiger pitchers take the mount - compared five for the host Bulldogs - Wittenberg picked up a 10-5 win and setting up their pitching well with many options for Saturday's doubleheader in Springfield.
Starting on the mound in Game 1 for the Tigers was senior Nate Floyd (Akron, OH/Copley). Floyd went a very impressive six innings in his start, allowing only four hits with one run while striking out three. Coming in relief for Floyd in the bottom in the seventh was senior Kyle Mahon (Dayton, OH/Centerville). Mahon went the remaining three innings, allowing two hits and striking out an impressive five Bulldog batters in the appearance. Floyd was credited with the win, improving his record to 2-0 on the year, while Mahon was given the save, his first of the year.
The Tiger defense did well keeping runners stranded on the bases, with a key to their success being a pair of double plays on the day.
Wittenberg also had another day to remember at the plate, scoring all 10 of their runs in the first four innings. Both graduate student Luke Thomas (Tallmadge, OH/Tallmadge) and senior Rocco Royer (Lake Bluff, IL/ Lake Forest) had a home run in the game, with Thomas hitting a solo homer and Royer hitting a three-run bomb. Freshman Charlie Marando (Dublin, OH/Dublin Scioto) and junior James MacAuley (Grosse Pointe Woods, MI/Grosse Pointe North) both had strong days at the plate with Marando going 2-for-5 at the plate and MacAuley going 3-for-4 with three RBIs on the game off two doubles in the first and fourth innings.
The Tigers return to action tomorrow to finish off a three-game set against the Bulldogs with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. for the first game and 4:00 p.m. for the second game. The doubleheader serves as the home opener for the Tigers at Carelton Davidson Stadium, and it will include a special ceremony to celebrate the 2024 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) championship team.
Written By: Ben Glassman '28