Softball Grabs Win Over Saint Joseph’s, But Drops Close One to No. 23-Ranked Belhaven

BARTOW, FL – A change in venue was a positive move for Wittenberg Softball for at least one contest as the Tigers split games on the day, defeating Saint Joseph's College (Maine) 13-2, before dropping a close one to 23^rd-ranked Belhaven, 4-3, at The Spring Games in Florida, on Thursday, March 12.

Wittenberg's offense exploded for 13 runs on 14 hits in game one against Saint Joseph's at Miss Bartow Softball Complex in Bartow, Florida, to capture the victory in five innings. The Tigers got on the board early, scoring five in the first, one more in the second, then four in the fourth, and three more in the fifth while holding the Monks to just two runs that crossed the plate in the third inning.

Kayla Drake (Wilmington, OH / Clinton-Massie) homered in the first with Gada Bryant (Westville, IL / Bismarck-Henning) on board to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. Bailey Nichols (Tucson, AZ / Sabino) then singled in another run, followed by Shyann Beddow (Kearns, UT / Kearns), who doubled down the left field line to bring in two more to give Witt a 5-0 lead and never look back. 

Drake was 3-for-4 in game one with two RBI and two runs scored. She is currently sporting a .438 batting average with five RBIs on the year. Beddow, who tallied two doubles, was 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored, while Nichols was 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.

Ava Cyphers (Dayton, OH / Vandalia Butler) doubled to right field in the fifth to bring in two more runs. She finished the game going 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Kennedy Reed (Lewis Center, OH / Olentangy Orange) drove in the other Tigers' run. Bryant, who drew two walks, led the team in stolen bases with three, and she also scored two runs. Rowan Goodpasture (Wabash, IN / Southwood) was 2-for-4 and scored two runs. 

Phoebe Underwood (Seymour, IN / Seymour) and Lilly James (Troy, OH / Troy) took care of business on the mound, with Underwood allowing three hits for two runs in four innings of work before giving way to James, who came on in the fifth to close things down. She allowed just one hit while striking out three.  

The offense was a little quieter in game two, as this time it was Belhaven that struck for three runs in the first inning. The Tigers fought back, scoring one in the third, then two more to tie it at 3-3 in the fourth. Belhaven scored the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth inning and shut down Witt the rest of the way through to hold on for the 4-3 win in seven innings. Belhaven landed 10 hits to eight for Witt.

Wittenberg spread out its offense with seven different players registering a run in the game. Bekah Giel (Westville, IL / Bismarck-Henning) was the lone Tiger to get two hits, going 2-for-3 at the plate and scoring a run. Nichols, Meghan McCans (Arcanum, OH / Arcanum), and Kirsten Wright (Springfield, OH / Kenton Ridge) each drove in a run, while Bryant and Kortnie Ganshorn (Galion, OH / Galion) scored the other runs. Drake and Giel each had a double in the game, and Cyphers and Giel each stole a base.

Julie Hall (Powell, OH / Bishop Watterson) took the loss on the mound. She went five innings, giving up four runs, three earned, and striking out one. James came on in relief, pitching the final two innings and striking out three.

With the split, the Tigers go to 5-3 on the season. Saint Joseph's of Maine is 3-5, and Belhaven improves to 13-6. Belhaven's win was its seventh in a row this season.

The Tigers have scored 53 runs in eight games and sport a batting average of .268 and an on-base percentage of .384.

Up Next

Wittenberg will take on Carroll at 1:30 p.m. and No. 20-ranked Rowan at 3:45 p.m. on Friday, March 13, in The Spring Games at DiamondPlex in Winter Haven, Florida.

Written By: Cindy Holbrook