Softball Splits with Non-Conference Opponent Muskingum

Springfield, OH - The Tigers took on the Muskingum University Muskies and ended up splitting the doubleheader, losing the first game, 6-2, and winning the second, 8-4. After each team won a single game, Wittenberg's record now sits at 22-10 (4-4 NCAC), while Muskingum is just a game under .500 at 13-14 (8-5 OAC). In the first game, the Tigers struggled to get the bats going, but the bats got hot and pitching was stellar to take a win in game two.

In game one, Samantha Zungri (Canal Winchester, OH / Canal Winchester) started in the circle and through three and one-third innings of work she allowed six runs on seven hits and struck out two batters. Lilly Shaw (Washington Courthouse, OH / Washington) entered in relief to throw two and two-thirds innings, only allowing two hits and striking out one batter. Lilly James (Troy, OH / Troy) threw the last inning without allowing a single hit while striking out two batters. After the top of the third, the Muskies had a 4-0 lead, but a Kirsten Wright (Springfield, OH / Kenton Ridge) double drove in a run to cut the lead to three. After Muskingum added two more in the fourth and in the fifth, Meghan McCans (Arcanum, OH / Arcanum) scored Wittenberg's final run on an obstruction call after stealing third that allowed her to cross the plate to finish off the scoring and end the game 6-2.

Game One Team Leaders

• Wright led the team in hits with two and McCans was the only other Tiger to record a hit with one.
• Wright also accounted for the lone RBI of the game for the Tigers, while McCans and Julia Burch (Dublin, OH / Dublin Jerome) were the only runners to cross the plate.
• Burch and Shaw were each able to draw a walk at the plate.

Game One Team Comparison

• The Tigers had more stolen bases than the Muskies, totaling three to Muskingum's one. The Tigers also logged two walks at the plate to the Muskies' one.
• In the rest of the statistics, Muskingum took the advantage in those aside from stolen bases and walks.

Game Two

Starting in the circle in game two for the Tigers was Julie Hall (Powell, OH / Bishop Watterson). She threw three and two-thirds innings, and after giving up a run in the first, she bounced back and allow three runs on only four hits while striking out three to collect the win. Shaw came in to throw in relief again and gave up one run on three hits in one and a third innings of work. James recorded the save, throwing the last two innings for the Tigers, in which she allowed only one hit and struck out four Muskie batters. The Muskies started the scoring by plating a run in the top of the first, but the Tigers answered with a four-run bottom half that started with a Rebekah Giel (Amelia, OH / West Clermont) RBI single and was capped off by an Audrey Fyffe (Springfield, OH / Kenton Ridge) single to plate the fourth of the inning. The Tigers added three more in the fourth as Wright had an RBI single, Burch scored on a bad throw after stealing third, and Giel hit a sacrifice fly to score Wright. The Muskies started to bouce back and added three more in the fourth to make it 7-4, but the Tigers added one more as Wright hit a double to score Burch.

Game Two Team Leaders

• Giel and Wright led the team with two each and they each had the team lead in RBI's with two for each of them as well.
• Burch paced the team in runs with three and Wright followed with two. 
• Burch and Gada Bryant (Westville, IL / Bismark Henning) each logged two stolen bases to lead the team.

Game Two Team Comparison

• Wittenberg had only one error to two for the Muskies and the Tigers had six stolen bases while Muskingum only recorded one.
• The Tigers also didn't strike out once while the Muskies struck out three times and Wittenberg drew three walks to Muskingum's two.

The Tigers will be back in action on Saturday, April 26th, as they take on Hiram in a doubleheader that starts at 1:00 at Betty Doughman-Dillahunt Field in Springfield.

Written By: Grant Martin