Wittenberg Earns Key Split At Allegheny

MEADVILLE, Pa. - The Wittenberg Tigers made the long trip to Allegheny and came away with half of what they wanted. In the opener of a key North Coast Athletic Conference doubleheader, the Tigers dropped an 11-8 decision against the preseason favorites, but Wittenberg rebounded for a 9-0 victory in the nightcap to go home with an important split.

Wittenberg is now 6-18 overall and 2-2 in the NCAC after splitting doubleheaders with each of last year's conference co-champions, Ohio Wesleyan and Allegheny, to open the NCAC schedule. Allegheny is now 7-9 overall and 3-1 in the NCAC.

In the opener, the Tigers committed four errors and allowed a season-high 16 hits. Freshman Taryn Hensel started the game in the pitcher's circle, but sophomore Grace Wigton took the loss in relief after allowing four unearned runs.

Offensively, the Tigers turned nine hits and three walks into eight runs, but it still wasn't enough. Freshman Amy Myser had her best offensive game as a collegian with two hits and three runs batted in, while sophomore Stephanie Zorn reached base four straight times, twice with hits and twice on walks.

The second game was something completely different, and surprising. Allegheny went with the same pitcher in Game 2, and Wittenberg pounded out another 13 hits in a game shortened to five innings thanks to the run rule. The Tigers got a pitching gem from senior Norah Gillam, who allowed just two hits in tossing ninth complete game in 11 outings in 2005. She is now 4-7 with a respectable 2.81 earned run average.

Zorn had another big game with the bat, going 3-for-4 with two runs batted in to lead the offense. Five different players had multi-hit games, including Myser again and sophomore Meghan Campbell, who also scored a pair of runs.