Witt Softball Splits with DePauw to Remain Tied at the Top of NCAC

SPRINGFIELD, OH – In a battle for the league lead heading into the final weeks of the regular season, Wittenberg Softball split a doubleheader with DePauw to stay on top of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) standings. In games played at Wittenberg's Betty Doughman Dillahunt Field on Sunday, April 19, the host Tigers topped DePauw in game one, 7-2, but were defeated in the second, 9-1, to keep the two teams knotted in a first-place tie atop the NCAC.

Wittenberg and DePauw each have two conference losses, while the next closest teams are Kenyon and Denison, each with five defeats. With the split, Wittenberg is 19-13 overall and 8-2 in the NCAC, while DePauw is 19-11 and 8-2.

Wittenberg came out of the gates swinging, plating three runs in the first inning, then adding one in each of the second and fourth innings, along with two more in the fifth for seven total on 11 hits. Tiger hurlers held DePauw to just one run in each of the third and fourth innings on seven total hits.

Kirsten Wright (Springfield, OH / Kenton Ridge) had a big game at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, and she scored two as well. Speedy Meghan McCans (Arcanum, OH / Arcanum) was also 2-for-4 with two triples, two runs scored, and an RBI. Gada Bryant (Westville, IL / Bismarck-Henning) was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Kennedy Reed (Lewis Center, OH / Olentangy Orange) was also 2-for-3. Kayla Drake (Wilmington, OH / Clinton-Massie) had a double and drove in a run while both Bekah Giel (Amelia, OH / West Clermont) and Rowan Goodpasture (Wabash, IN / Southwood) scored the other Tiger runs. Giel, Goodpasture, and McCans each had a stolen base in the game.  

Julie Hall (Powell, OH / Bishop Watterson) captured her seventh win of the season on the mound, going 5.1 innings and allowing two runs on six hits. Lilly Shaw (Washington Courthouse, OH / Washington) and Lilly James (Troy, OH / Troy) also got a little work in. 

The tables were turned in game two, as DePauw captured the 9-1 win to stay up with Wittenberg. DePauw had three big innings where three runs crossed the plate – the second, the sixth, and the seventh – and 15 hits in the contest. Wittenberg's lone run came around in the second. Witt was held to just three hits.

Emma Lohri (Heath, OH / Newark Catholic) and Bailey Nichols (Tucson, AZ / Sabino) each landed a double in the second, with Nichols picking up the RBI that brought Lohri in to score. Drake also had a double in the fifth inning, and Bryant had two stolen bases.

Phoebe Underwood (Seymour, IN / Seymour) took the loss on the mound and is now 6-6 on the season.

Up Next

Wittenberg will host Wooster in another NCAC doubleheader on Saturday, April 25, at 1 and 3 p.m. It will be Senior Recognition Day.

Written By: Cindy Holbrook