SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers dug themselves too deep a hole Saturday at home in the friendly confines of Edwards-Maurer Field, and by game's end they were on the short end of a 17-4 score against Ohio Wesleyan, the top-ranked team in the region currently.

Wittenberg fell to 3-9 overall and 0-4 in the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament. The home stretch includes a road game on Thursday against Denison and a season finale in Springfield against Oberlin on Saturday, April 29. The Tigers have been eliminated from contention for the NCAC.

Ohio Wesleyan scored the first eight goals of the game and took a commanding 11-1 lead into the halftime break. Wittenberg showed some signs of life in the early parts of the second half, but the Tigers were unable to keep up with the speedy, skilled Battling Bishops. After cutting the lead to 13-4, the Tigers gave up the final four goals of the game.

The Bishops outshot the host team decisively - 35-17 - and picked up 12 saves from goalkeeper Maggie Eichenlaub. Wittenberg picked up two goals and one assist from leading scorer Melissa Jackson and two goals from Amber Cupples, who now has 19 goals and 19 assists on the season. Defensively, the Tigers struggled again, although the goalkeeping tandem of freshman Melissa Sedziol and junior Kari Thomas, who was making her first career appearance in the net, combined for nine saves.