Baseball rallies from 12-run deficit, comes up just short in 17-15 loss to Wittenberg
By Tim Glon
ADA — Ohio Northern rallied from a 12-run deficit and managed to get with two runs in the bottom of the ninth before eventually falling to Wittenberg 17-15 in a non-conference baseball slugfest on a chilly Tuesday afternoon at Wander Field.
The Polar Bears fall to 22-11 overall, while the Tigers improve to 25-6.
Senior Nate Webb (Bath, Ind./Union County) went 3-for-5 with a home run and 3 RBI and senior Jacob Wenning (Coldwater) was 2-for-5 with four runs scored to lead ONU's 19-hit offensive attack.
Wittenberg scored multiple runs in each of the first five innings to build a 16-4 lead after four and a half innings.
But ONU scored once in the bottom of the fifth and three times in the bottom of the sixth to get within 16-8.
Trailing 17-8, Webb's 2-run home run in the bottom of the eighth sparked a five-run rally to bring the hosts with striking range at 17-13.
Freshman Chase Armstrong (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) and sophomore Sam Sells (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange) each scored on ground balls as Ohio Northern drew within 17-15 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
Northern got the tying run to the plate but Wittenberg reliever Charlie Schafer came on to record the final out as the Tigers held on for the win.
Ohio Northern out-hit Wittenberg 19-13.
The Polar Bears return to action on Thursday at home against Ohio Wesleyan at 4 p.m. at Wander Field.