Sophomore shortstop Jacob Whitford (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands) hit two home runs tonight (Tuesday, April 11, 2017) to lead the Thomas More College baseball team to a 9-7 win over Wittenberg University in 10 innings at Carleton Davidson Stadium in Springfield, Ohio.
With the win, the Saints improve to 14-5 and with the loss, the Tigers fall to 8-14.
Wittenberg scored one in the first, second and third innings and then plated four runs in the fourth and Thomas More answered with one run in the second, three in the third, one in the sixth and two in the seventh to force extra innings. In the 10th inning, sophomore leftfielder Joshua Boeckman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) had an run batted-in single scoring junior second baseman Ben Laumann (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) and Whitford had a RBI single scoring Boeckman and the Saints shutdown Wittenberg in the bottom of the inning for the 9-7 extra inning victory.
Whitford was four-for-six at the plate with the two home runs, three runs scored and five RBI. Two other Saints had multiple hits in the game as Boeckman was two-for-five with two runs scored and a RBI and sophomore catcher Sam Hauer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) was two-for-four.
Sophomore pitcher Ethan Kramer (Sunman, Ind./East Central) started and had a no-decision as he pitched four innings and gave up seven runs (three earned) on five hits and struck out one. Junior pitcher Noah Frantz (Crestwood, Ky./South Oldham) earned the win as he pitched five shutout innings of relief and gave up three hits, while striking out one. Senior Ken Ruberg (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) had the save as he pitched a scoreless 10th inning and gave up one hit and struck out two.
Thomas More returns to action tomorrow when it travels to Louisville, Kentucky to play in-state rival Spalding University in a non-conference game. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Cory Blackson
Director of Athletic Communications and Compliance
Thomas More College