Wittenberg Powers Past Transylvania 18-3 Behind Big Fifth Inning
Lexington, KY – The Wittenberg Tigers used a dominant offensive performance, highlighted by a huge fifth inning, to defeat Transylvania, 18-3, on Wednesday.
Wittenberg, which improved to 4-3 on the season with the win, struck first in the opening inning when Xander Rodriguez (Salinas, PR / Franklin County) walked and later scored on an RBI single from Alex Nemunaitis (Perrysburg, OH / Ottawa Hills) to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead. The Tigers added two more runs in the second inning as Corbin Marshall (Doylestown, OH / Chippewa) reached on a single and later scored on a wild pitch, while Quintin Applegate (Delaware, OH / Olentangy Berlin) came around on a passed ball to extend the lead.
Wittenberg broke the game open in the third inning with five runs. After several batters reached base, Charlie Marando (Dublin, OH / Scioto) drew an RBI walk before Rodriguez lifted a sacrifice fly. Tommy Chilicki (Lewis Center, OH / Olentangy) followed with an RBI double, pushing the Tigers' lead to 8-0.
The Tigers erupted for nine runs on six hits in the fifth inning. Marando started the rally with a single before Rodriguez and Chilicki drew walks to load the bases. Daniel Gladden (Galena, OH / Olentangy Berlin) brought home a run with a sacrifice fly, and Nemunaitis followed with an RBI single. Marshall then blasted a three-run home run to extend the lead.
The inning continued as Applegate singled and later scored. James MacAuley (Grosse Pointe Woods, MI / Grosse Point North) capped the inning with a grand slam to left field, driving in four runs and sealing the Tigers' big lead.
Marshall finished with three hits, three RBIs and a home run, while MacAuley drove in four runs with his grand slam. Chilicki added two doubles, and Nemunaitis contributed three hits and two RBIs.
On the mound, Mason Glen (Cincinnati, OH / Anderson) started for Wittenberg, striking out six over 3.2 innings while allowing three runs on two hits. Gage Miller (Dayton, OH / Twin Valley South) earned the win with 1.1 innings of relief against the Pioneers, who dropped to 4-3 on the season. Tommy Anthony (Toronto, Ontario / Monarch Park) and Ben sells (Urbana, OH / Graham) each tossed a scoreless inning to close out the victory.
Up next: The Tigers return to action March 7 against Immaculata in Game 1 during their Spring Break trip to Myrtle Beach, SC.
Written By: Luke Thomas