Tiger Bats Stay Hot, Not Enough Against Number 1 Big Red

CHILLICOTHE, OH - It was another big offensive day for the second-seeded and 13th-ranked Wittenberg Tigers at the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament. However, with an overworked pitching staff facing the top-seeded and No. 1-ranked Denison Big Red in the championship game, the Tigers were unable to keep the momentum from Friday's wins over John Caroll and DePauw as the Tigers lost 14-8.

Denison won the NCAC Tournament for a phenomenal seventh straight year and extended its winning streak to an equally phenomenal 39 in a row. The loss dropped Wittenberg to 31-11, just one win shy of the program record of 32 achieved in 2023. With an NPI rating hovering between 15 and 20, the Tigers remain in good shape to advance to the second NCAA Division III Tournament in program history.

The NCAA Division III Tournament Selection Show takes place at 12 p.m. Monday, May 11. Opening round games in the big dance are scheduled to begin Friday, May 15.

A day after striking for 37 hits and 27 runs in wins over John Carroll and DePauw, Wittenberg's bats were alive from the very start against Denison as well, striking for three runs in the first, single runs in the second and third innings, and another three-spot in the fourth. The Tigers were able to knock out the Big Red's starter, Robbie Lee, in just three innings, and through the fourth, Wittenberg held an 8-6 lead. Denison responded with a five-run fifth inning, and the Big Red's pitching and defense did the rest, holding Wittenberg scoreless the rest of the way.

Freshman Corbin Marshall (Doylestown, OH / Chippewa) had his third straight 4-for-5 game at the plate, highlighted by RBI hits in the first and fourth innings. Quintin Applegate (Delaware, OH / Olentangy Berlin), Daniel Gladden (Galena, OH / Olentangy Berlin), and Tommy Chilicki (Lewis Center, OH / Olentangy) all finished with three hits in the game as the Tigers piled up another 18 base knocks in the game. Unfortunately, Wittenberg left a whopping 13 runners on base.

The Tigers used six pitchers in the game, highlighted by Ben Sells (Urbana, OH / Graham) with two innings of one-hit ball in relief. Freshman Lucas Patrick (Delaware, OH / Olentangy Berlin) took the loss after throwing two solid innings before getting into trouble. He dropped to 1-1 on the season.

After the game, four Tigers were named to the NCAC All-Tournament team: Xander Rodriguez (Salinas, PR / Franklin County), Chilicki, Marshall, and Alex Nemunaitis (Perrysburg, OH / Ottawa Hills).

Written By: Ben Glassman '28