Tigers Finish 2-1 In 2006 Wittenberg Tournament

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers opened their 2006 home season with a 2-1 finish in the Wittenberg Tournament at Carleton Davidson Stadium. Pitt-Bradford also had a 2-1 record on the weekend, while Hiram and John Carroll both finished 1-2 over the two day event. All were nine inning games.

The Tigers stand at 7-4 overall after a solid 5-3 Spring Break trip to Port Charlotte, Fla., and then the Wittenberg Tournament. The story was much the same in Wittenberg's return to Ohio as it was in Florida - a strong offense, but a pitching staff victimized by shaky defense. Wittenberg has now allowed 26 unearned runs this season while committing 27 errors.

The strong offense was evident again in the three home games as the Tigers pounded out 30 hits and scored 24 runs. Wittenberg opened things with a 6-5 victory over Pitt-Bradford on Saturday morning. On Sunday, the Tigers dropped an 8-6 decision to North Coast Athletic Conference East Division rival Hiram before rallying for an impressive 12-3 victory over John Carroll in the final game of the weekend. JCU had won its first 10 games of the season before losing its last two games at the Wittenberg Tournament.

Against Pitt-Bradford, the Tigers jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the fifth inning in typical fashion - by stringing several hits together and utilizing their team speed. Three UPB errors to start the fourth inning got things started for Wittenberg and sophomore Rocky Staton helped the Tigers cash in with a two-run single. In the fifth inning, another error opened the door for the Tigers as K.R. Schlievert scored on a miscue by the third baseman, freshman Patrick Williams stole home and freshman Jacob Michael drove in the third run with a double.

Wittenberg then held on for dear life, allowing four runs in the top of the ninth before sophomore Joel Puthoff recorded his third save of the young season by getting the final out. That made a winner out of senior starter Jason Holmberg, who had allowed four hits and four walks in eight strong innings.

The Tigers held a 2-1 lead early against Hiram, but after starter Trey Richardson was lifted in the sixth inning the Terriers took control, scoring three times in the sixth, once in the seventh and three more times in the eighth. Wittenberg's rally, including two runs each in the eighth and ninth innings, fell short as the Tigers loaded the bases with one run in and nobody out in their final at-bat, only to get just one run across the plate.

Richardson made a solid start, allowing four hits and one earned run in five innings. Offensively, the Tigers got two hits and two runs from sophomore Jon Fox and five different players drove in one run.

Rounding out the weekend, the Tigers put it all together in perhaps their best game of the season. Senior Steve Less pounded the strike zone in eight strong innings, allowing two unearned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out eight. Sophomore Eric Hartfelder made his first appearance of the season in relief, allowing an unearned run on two hits.

A six-run second inning helped the Tigers to race out to an 8-2 lead through three innings. Only two of Wittenberg's 12 runs were earned as JCU made untimely errors that opened the door for home runs by Williams and senior Brian Hampp. Both players had three hits in the game, while Hampp had a career-high four runs batted in.