Tigers Season Ends Against Adrian as Tiger Bats Go Cold
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 0 |
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2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
ADRIAN, MI - After a tough loss in the first game of the regional round of the NCAA Division III Tournament, the Wittenberg Tigers returned to Nicolay Field at Adrian College to take on the hosting Bulldogs. After a hot start in the first inning, the bats went cold for the second straight game in an 8-2 loss.
The second loss in as many days brought Wittenberg's dream season to an end with a final overall record of 31-13, one short of the program record of 32 wins in a season set in 2023. Adrian advanced to play another elimination game against either DePauw or Webster, carrying an overall record of 32-11.
In the first inning, Wade Thewes (Parker, CO / Lutheran) held the Bulldogs scoreless and the offense came out in the bottom of the inning with a slew of singles, as Tommy Chilicki (Lewis Center, OH / Olentangy) drove home Alex Nemunaitis (Perrysburg, OH / Ottawa Hills) and Corbin Marshall (Doylestown, OH / Chippewa) grounded into a fielder's choice to bring Xander Rodriguez (Salinas, PR / Franklin County) home and make the score 2-0.
In the top of the second, Adrian answered with two runs after a couple of leadoff extra base hits, but Thewes was able to get out of trouble, striking out two batters and getting a caught stealing from catcher Charlie Marando (Dublin, OH / Scioto). However, in the top of the third, Adrian took the lead, scoring three more runs to go up 5-2. After the Tigers went scoreless again, Adrian took full control with three more runs in the fourth before Mikey Eickhoff (Akron, OH / St. Vincent-St. Mary) came on in relief to end the rally.
For the remainder of the game, both teams went scoreless as Eickhoff recorded one of his best outings of the year. He closed out the game for the Tigers, going five and two-thirds innings, allowing only a single hit, striking out two and walking one batter. The Tigers threatened again in the ninth with a single from Daniel Gladden (Galena, OH / Olentangy Berlin) and a James MacAuley (Grosse Pointe Woods, MI / Grosse Pointe North) walk before the Bulldogs recorded three straight outs to finish the game.
Wittenberg finished with nine hits in the game - just one short of Adrian - but four of the Bulldogs' hits were doubles, compared to just one extra-base hit for the Tigers. Rodriguez and Marando each finished with two hits in the game. The pitching loss went to Thewes, who dropped to 7-3 on the season.