Trying to extend streak to 55, Wittels appears to tweak ankle during NCAA tournament

Wittels injures ankle trying to extend hit streak

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Garrett Wittels has taken a misstep while trying to extend his pursuit of the Division I hit-streak record.

The Florida International infielder with a 54-game hitting streak pulled up after chopping a ball to third in the third inning of the Golden Panthers’ NCAA tournament game against Texas A&M on Friday.

Wittels appeared to turn his right ankle and stopped running after a couple of steps, then grabbing his right calf. He remained in the game, taking his spot at second base in the bottom of the third, and flexed the ankle often.

The groundout left him 0 for 2 in the game.

He entered Friday four games shy of matching the Division I record, a 58-game streak by Oklahoma State’s Robin Ventura in 1987.