Feb. 18, 2011

Wittels goes 0-4, hit steaks ends at 56

FIU junior shortstop Garrett Wittels went 0-4 in a 10-2 loss to Southeastern Louisiana Friday evening, ending his hit streak at 56 games.

Wittels has the second-longest hit streak in NCAA Division I history, two short of Robin Ventura’s record of 58 set in 1987 while at Oklahoma State.

Wittels reached on a fielder’s choice in the first, fouled out to right in the third, grounded out to third in the sixth and reached on a fielder’s choice in the eighth. Third baseman Jonathan Pace made a diving stop on the hard-hit ball in the eighth and touched third for the second out of the frame.

The Lions (1-0) scored four in the first and two in the second to take a 6-1 lead. After the Golden Panthers (0-1) got one back in the eighth, Southeastern Louisiana tallied four in the ninth to put the game away in front of a crowd of 1,755 at FIU Baseball Stadium..

Brandon Efferson (1-0) allowed three hits and two runs in seven innings for the Lions with three walks and three strikeouts to earn the victory. Brock Hebert had three hits, while Cody Gougler added two hits and two RBI.

Joel Capote had two of FIU’s four hits.

(photo courtesy of FIU Media Relations Office)