Tigers Open NCAC Tournament With 7-6 Loss to DePauw
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 1 |
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0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 2 |
CHILLICOTHE, OH - The second-seeded Wittenberg Tigers found themselves in an early three-run hole against third-seeded DePauw in their opening game of the 2026 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament. After battling back to briefly take the lead, the Tigers found a late-inning three-run deficit too much to overcome in a 7-6 loss at VA Memorial Stadium.
Wittenberg, which won both regular season meetings with DePauw, dropped to 29-10 overall on the season, while the Indiana Tigers improved to 28-11. The Ohio Tigers will now play an elimination game against fourth-seeded John Carroll at 1:30 p.m. Friday, shortly after DePauw squares off with top-seeded and No. 1-ranked Denison in a game set for a 10 a.m. first pitch.
Wittenberg outhit DePauw, 13-10, in the game, but Indiana Tigers benefited from six walks issued by Ohio Tiger pitching. That extra traffic on the basepaths netted DePauw two crucial runs in the late innings and accounted for the final one-run margin.
DePauw opened the game with a three-run homer in the top of the first inning, but after that Wittenberg starting pitcher Andrew Rust (Dublin, OH / Coffman) was outstanding. His final line was three earned runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings pitched, and he left the game with his team down just one run at 3-2.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Ohio Tigers scored twice to take a 4-3 lead, but DePauw responded with three in the eighth and another run in the ninth. Three of the four runs scored by way of sacrifice flies.
Wittenberg rallied in the ninth, loading the bases with no outs. The Ohio Tigers could only push across two runs, however, as DePauw starter Justin Benes closed out the complete game throwing just 107 pitches, 75 of which were strikes. Mikey Eickhoff (Akron, OH / St. Vincent-St. Mary) took the loss after giving up three earned runs in one inning of relief work.
Four Wittenberg batters finished the game with multiple hits, led by Alex Nemunaitis (Perrysburg, OH / Ottawa Hills) with a 3-for-5 outing from his leadoff spot. Quintin Applegate (Delaware, OH / Olentangy Berlin) added two hits and scored two runs, Corbin Marshall (Doylestown, OH / Chippewa) went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, and Daniel Gladden (Galena, OH / Olentangy Berlin) also collected a pair of base knocks in three plate appearances. Also of note, James MacAuley (Grosse Pointe Woods, MI / Grosse Pointe North) scored two runs and drove in two more.
Written By: Ryan Maurer