Streak Now Stands At 46 Games
Florida International beat rival Florida Atlantic 12-4 Thursday night in Boca Raton, FL, but the result of the game was more the subplot than the actual storyline. FIU’s Garrett Wittels extended his current hitting streak to 46 games with a first inning RBI single to help his team to its fourth straight win.
Garrett Wittels has hit safely in 46 straight games this season. (FIU photo)
Wittels is now in sole possession of third place on the NCAA all-time hitting streak list. A hit in Friday’s game vs. FAU would tie him with Phil Stephenson of Wichita State, who hit safely in 47 straight games in 1981. Former Oklahoma State star and Major League Veteran Robin Ventura holds the all-time record with hits in 58 straight games in 1987. Ventura’s streak ended at the College World Series.
Wittels has hits in all 46 of his team’s 51 games he has played in this season. The sophomore is second in the Sun Belt Conference with a .408 batting average. He has 80 hits in 196 at-bats with a .457 on-base percentage. Wittels has hit 63 singles, 13 doubles, two triples and two home runs during his streak.
He has also made three relief appearances with a 3.30 ERA in 2 2/3 innings pitched.
Florida International (31-20, 17-11 Sun Belt) and Florida Atlantic (31-20, 19-9 Sun Belt) continue their series Friday night on FAU’s campus. They conclude the regular season Saturday afternoon. If Wittels is able to continue his hitting streak in those games he will have the chance to keep it going when the 2010 Sun Belt Conference Tournament begins next Wednesday in Murfreesboro, TN.
All-Time Division One Hitting Streaks
| PLAYER | TEAM | YEAR | NO. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robin Ventura | Oklahoma St. | 1987 | 58 |
| Garrett Wittels | Wichita St. | 2010 | 47 |
| Phil Stephenson | Wichita St. | 1981 | 47 |
| Roger Schmuck | Arizona St. | 1971 | 45 |
| Chuck Abbott | Austin Peay | 1996 | 42 |
| Michael Campo Todd Nace Rusty Adkins | Penn St. Southern Miss. Clemson | 2000 1989-'90 1965-'66 | 41 |