Tigers Encounter Turbulence In Loss To Flyers
After a wild win against Thomas More the previous day, the Wittenberg Tiger baseball team stuck with the Dayton Flyers before falling behind due to some costly errors late in the game to finish at an 8-3 deficit.
DAYTON, Ohio - After a wild win against Thomas More the previous day, the Wittenberg Tiger baseball team stuck with the Dayton Flyers before falling behind due to some costly errors late in the game to finish at an 8-3 deficit. Even a two-run Tiger rally in the top of the eighth was quickly stymied by a three-run retaliation from the University of Dayton (UD) in the bottom of the inning.
The story on the mound had many chapters, as six Wittenberg pitchers were called on in the game. Sophomore southpaw Kory Winter (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto) made the start and took responsibility for the loss, giving up two runs, both earned, while walking three in three innings of work. Freshman Manny Rodriguez (Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinnett) started the fourth and pitched one inning of effective relief, giving up two hits but keeping the Flyers from scoring.
Sophomore Bobby Ciucki (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) also threw an inning, allowing just two hit buts giving up two runs as well, including a leadoff home run. JuniorsJosh Fiebiger (Fletcher, Ohio/Miami East) and Tim Antil (Brookville, Ohio/Northmont) and sophomore A.J. Bush (Troy, Ohio/Troy) all saw an inning to finish out the game, Fiebiger giving up one run with a strikeout, Antil pitching a one-hit frame with a strikeout, and Bush finishing out with a three-hit, three-run inning.
In the field, the Tigers made two errors, accounting for one run, but had trouble on a number of plays throughout the game. The Flyers stole three bases to complicate matters.
From the plate, the Tigers matched hits with Dayton at 11, but left eight runners on base. Freshman Ray Noe (Dublin, Ohio/Jerome) went 2-for-3 in his leadoff spot in the order, but could not come around, as the two batters behind him hit a combined 1-for-9. Senior catcher Matt Steinke (Wapakoneta, Ohio/St. Mary's Memorial) hit 2-for-4 in his cleanup spot. Sophomore first baseman Chris Dorka (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) batted 1-for-2 with a run and one RBI, while junior designated hitter Ryan Montgomery (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) accounted for the other RBI on his 1-for-4 hitting.
The Tigers take a few days off before a pair of conference doubleheaders with division rival Ohio Wesleyan at home on Saturday and Sunday, both scheduled for noon starts.