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Usually when we talk college ball around here, it’s about the Canes. Or at least about FAU’s unstoppable rain delay antics.
But for the last week, the FIU Golden Panthers have dominated the local aluminum bat scene. Everyone from Sportscenter to MLB.com, in fact, can’t stop talking about FIU infielder Garratt Wittels, a scruffy-faced sophomore with an unbelievable hit streak still intact.
As you can see above, Wittels — a Krop High grad — pushed the streak to a truly insane 45 straight games yesterday with a single in the fourth against South Alabama.
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With that stroke to right, he tied the immortal Roger Schmuck of Arizona State, who hit in 45 straight back in 1971, for third all time in the NCAA record books.
On Thursday in Boca, Wittels will start gunning for second-place — 47 straight by Wichita State’s Phil Stephenson in 1981. (Hey, drive to Boca for this one! If there’s a rain delay, you could see FAU break the record for most improv-theater inspired moments by a ball club, and then catch Wittels extend the streak.)
Wittels has a way to go for the all-time record, though.
Former Big League All Star Robin Ventura hit in 58 straight games in 1987 with the Oklahoma State Cowboys — two games longer than Joe DiMaggio’s fabled run for the Yanks in 1941.
