Wittenberg Splits Pair With Heidelberg

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Five games into the 2006 season, a pattern appears to be forming for the Wittenberg Tigers. Offensively, the Tigers are pounding the ball, but shaky pitching and defense will keep Wittenberg from reaching its goals, as they did in two nine-inning games with Heidelberg. 

The Student Princes captured the first game by a whopping 16-7 score, but the Tigers rallied on Thursday to take an 11-9 decision. Wittenberg pounded out 31 hits in the two games, compared to 28 for Heidelberg.

After spotting Wittenberg four runs in the second inning of the first game, Heidelberg exploded to score at least one run in each of the last seven innings. All three Tigers pitchers who saw action were touched for at least one run.

Offense wasn't a problem for the Tigers as they collected 12 hits and actually stranded as many runners as they pushed across in the game (7). Senior outfielder Matt Berry hit the first home run of his career, a three-run job in the second inning that staked the Tigers to their early lead. Freshman Jacob Michael, sophomore Jon Fox, senior K.R. Schlievert and senior Brian Hampp all had multi-hit game for Wittenberg.

In Thursday's game, the Tigers got a decent pitching performance from senior starter Jason Holmberg and parlayed another big offensive output into their second win in five Spring Break trip games. In eight innings, Holmberg allowed seven hits and no walks, although the Student Princes scored seven runs against him, including four earned. Sophomore Joel Puthoff relieved and gave up two unearned runs before finally closing the door.

Offensively, the Tigers collected 19 hits, including four by Schlievert and three each by Fox and Michael. Schlievert, Michael and Hampp drove in two runs each.