While the Tigers have yet to play a game at their own Walker Field, Friday’s doubleheader sweep against Hanover College in Westfield was a step in the right direction for the ball club.
DePauw (4-4) defeated the Panthers 4-2 and 7-6, moving back to .500 on the young season.
“There were a lot of positives to take away from the Friday games,” said senior pitcher Wyatt Spector, who picked up his first win of the season on the mound.
The Tiger offense was finally able to give their pitching staff decent run support, as the team put together two three-run second innings to give the team an early lead in both games.
“Our hitting is improving but we are a long way from our potential there,” said head coach Jayson Martin. “Our situational hitting was not good and we left way too many runners on base.”
Despite the victories, the lack of timely hitting plagued the Tigers in both games, as the team left 11 runners on in the first game and 10 runners on in the night cap.
In game one, Spector led the team with another quality start, throwing seven innings of one-run ball.
DePauw’s offense had multi-hit performances from junior infielders Ryan Grippo and Tate Stewart and senior outfielder Lucas Italiano.
“I think we are very close to putting it all together,” said Grippo. “Although we’ve been hitting the ball well, we haven’t strung together many big innings and need to start capitalizing on chances.”
Junior catcher Rick Okazaki agreed.
“Hitting in the beginning of the season is always tough,” explained Okazaki. “I definitely feel that there’s a gradual increase in everyone’s confidence at the plate.”
Okazaki would play hero in game two, as the junior’s infield single in the bottom of the ninth gave DePauw its second win of the day in dramatic, walk-off fashion.
“My hit wasn’t anything special,” said Okazaki, who went three for four at the plate with four RBIs . “It was the guys before me that got on base and set me up for that spot who should get the recognition.”
DePauw had rallied from two down after the bullpen allowed Hanover to put up a five spot in the seventh inning.
Junior Mike Hammel would get the win after pitching a scoreless ninth in relief while junior starter Riley Futterknecht (6 IP, 2 ER, 7 SO) got a no-decision.
“[Hanover] kept the game close and did a nice job with small ball,” said Martin. “They struggled a bit with giving us free bases by walks and hit by pitches, but got some big strikeouts and defensive plays when [they] needed to keep it tight.”
The Tigers are looking to play later today in their season opener against Capital. First pitch is scheduled at 4:30 p.m., weather permitting.
After that, the ball club will travel to Tucson, Arizona, where they will be playing seven games in eight days in the Tucson Invitational.