Tigers Starts off Strong
It has been a rather uneven start for the Tigers, but the hope is that as the weather finally warms up so will the arms and bats that carried the team to a 22-12-1 record in 2001.
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| Scott Hirsch | Lance Dill | Brian Robinson |
It has been a rather uneven start for the Tigers, but the hope is that as the weather finally warms up so will the arms and bats that carried the team to a 22-12-1 record in 2001.
The Tigers opened the season with four straight wins, sweeping doubleheaders from Carroll and Central (Iowa) and outscoring their foes 40-12. Even as Wittenberg lost four of its last six while in the warm and sunny climes of Ft. Myers, Fla., the Tigers continued to bash the baseball, putting up 12 runs in the second game of a doubleheader against Calvin and 15 in the first game against Westfield State.
Since returning to Ohio and the accompanying 40-degree temperatures, Wittenberg has cooled off a bit and has posted a 2-3 mark. Last week, Wilmington and Ohio Dominican both posted wins over the Tigers before Wittenberg swept a doubleheader against Muskingum on Saturday and then fell 6-4 to Urbana on Sunday.
The offensive onslaught has been led by senior utilityman Scott Hirsch (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain), who has started all 15 games this season while alternating between the outfield and second base and has posted a.480 batting average. He has collected two home runs, 17 runs scored, 11 runs batted in and six stolen bases while batting primarily in the leadoff position.
Also batting above .400 this year are senior catcher Nate Williams (Urbana, Ohio/Urbana), who is hitting .453 and leads the team in RBI with 15 and doubles with seven, senior centerfielder Lance Dill (Bellville,Ohio/Clear Fork), who has 12 RBI and team-bests of 18 runs and nine stolen bases, freshman outfielder Matt Foster (Granville, Ohio/Granville),who is hitting .429 in 10 games, and senior shortstop Bryan Burke (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick), who has been slowed by a hamstring injury but raised his batting average to .400 with a pair of home runs against Urbana.
The Tigers' most significant question mark entering the season - pitching - remains unanswered. Junior Brian Robinson (Columbus, Ohio/Centennial) has been the team's best out of the bullpen, compiling a 1.04 earned runaverage in six appearances. Among the starters, freshman Ryan Goldschmidt (Ft. Loramie, Ohio/Ft.Loramie) has a 3.45 ERA and a 2-0 record, while senior Nick Allen(Dayton, Ohio/Vandalia Butler) has posted a 5.06 ERA in four starts, including a complete-game win over Muskingum.
The Tigers open NCAC West Division action this weekend with three gamesat Wabash, a single game on Thursday and a doubleheader on Saturday. Wittenberg was runner-up in the division a year ago to Ohio Wesleyan, and the Tigers have been projected to finish fourth overall in the conference this year behind the Bishops, the College of Wooster and Allegheny.