Tigers Split Doubleheader With Wooster on Senior Recognition and Alumni Day

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Wittenberg Baseball battled the College of Wooster in a North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Carleton Davidson Stadium as the Tigers celebrated Senior Recognition and Alumni Day. Wittenberg earned a split on the day, falling 8-6 in game one before responding with an 8-2 win in game two.

With the split, Wittenberg moves to 21-6 overall and 5-1 in NCAC play.

Game 1: Wooster 8, Wittenberg 6

Wooster jumped out to an early advantage in the opener, scoring four runs in the first inning to take control early. The Tigers answered back in the third inning with three runs, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Corbin Marshall (Doylestown, OH / Chippewa).

Quintin Applegate (Delaware, OH / Olentangy Berlin) also drove in a run with an RBI single as Wittenberg cut into the deficit.

Wooster responded in the fifth with another four-run inning to push its lead to 8-3.

Wittenberg mounted a late rally in the seventh inning as Xander Rodriguez (Salinas, PR / Franklin County) launched his team-leading ninth home run of the season, a two-run shot that cut the deficit to 8-5. Landon Turner (Tipp City, OH / Tippecanoe) followed with an RBI double to bring the Tigers within two.

Despite the late push, Wooster held on for the 8-6 win, handing Wittenberg its first conference loss of the season.

Rodriguez, Turner, and Marshall each collected two hits in the opener. 

Game 2: Wittenberg 8, Wooster 2

Wooster once again struck first in game two, scoring two runs in the opening inning. The Tigers responded quickly behind strong relief pitching from Andrew Rust (Dublin, OH / Coffman), who entered in the second inning and immediately shut down Wooster's offense.

Rust delivered a dominant outing, tossing five innings of relief, allowing just two hits while striking out seven.

Wittenberg tied the game in the bottom of the second inning when Applegate delivered an RBI double, and another run scored on a throwing error to even the score at 2-2.

The Tigers broke through in the sixth inning as Marshall delivered again, blasting a two-run home run to give Wittenberg a 4-2 lead.

In the seventh inning, Tommy Chilicki (Lewis Center, OH / Olentangy) provided the final blow with a three-run home run, pushing the Tigers ahead 7-2.

Zach Rust (Dublin, OH / Coffman) provided a strong relief appearance going three innings, three strikeouts, and only allowing one hit. 

Chilicki finished with three hits, while Marshall, Turner, and Charlie Marando (Dublin, OH / Scioto) each recorded two hits in the win.

Up next: The Tigers return to action on Tuesday, April 14 at Ohio Northern University. 

Written by: Luke Thomas