McCans Breaks Steals Record as Tigers Sweep Ohio Wesleyan

SPRINGFIELD, OH – Wittenberg Softball got the brooms out early Saturday, April 4, and swept Ohio Wesleyan in a North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) doubleheader, winning 3-2 in game one and 4-1 in game two at Betty Doughman Dillahunt Field.

With the two wins on the day, the Tigers improved to 13-9 on the season and 3-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. Ohio Wesleyan drops to 4-16 overall and is now 0-4 NCAC.

In game one, Wittenberg scored two in the fourth inning and led the game up until the sixth frame, when the Battling Bishops plated two to tie. The Tigers scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning when Meghan McCans (Arcanum, OH / Arcanum) singled through the left side to bring home Ryleigh Johnson (Franklin, OH / Springboro) and post the win. 

The Tigers scored three runs on eight hits, with McCans getting three of the eight. She was 3-for-3 with an RBI and three stolen bases, which broke the NCAC record for career stolen bases. She also stole a base in game two to give her 22 on the season and 100 in her career at Wittenberg. 

Others who had a hit in game one included Johnson, Ava Cyphers (Dayton, OH / Vandalia Butler), Kayla Drake(Wilmington, OH / Clinton-Massie), Bekah Giel (Amelia, OH / West Clermont), and Emma Lohri (Heath, OH / Newark Catholic), who had a pinch-hit single. Cyphers, Giel, and McCans each had an RBI, while Giel, Johnson, and Samantha Cracas (Avon Lake, OH / Avon) each scored a run. Cyphers and Giel each had a double. 

Julie Hall (Powell, OH / Bishop Watterson) got the win on the mound, pitching seven innings and giving up two runs on five hits while walking two and striking out three others. 

In game two, Wittenberg scored one in the second inning, another in the fifth, and two more in the sixth while holding the Battling Bishops to just one in the third. The Tigers scored four runs on just three hits, with McCans, Rowan Goodpasture (Wabash, IN / Southwood), and Bailey Nichols (Tucson, AZ / Sabino) each getting a hit. Goodpasture scored two runs, Lohri scored another, and Cracas also crossed the plate. Nichols had two RBI, and Gada Bryant (Westville, IL / Bismarck-Henning), added the other. Goodpasture led the team in stolen bases with three, while Bryant, Drake, Lohri, McCans, and Nichols each had one.

Phoebe Underwood (Seymour, IN / Seymour) picked up her fifth win of the season on the mound, going 6.2 innings and allowing one run on three hits, and fanning one. Lilly James (Troy, OH / Troy) came on in relief and picked up her sixth save of the season.

Up Next

Wittenberg will host Heidelberg on April 7 in a double header with games at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. 

Written By: Cindy Holbrook