Witt Softball Sweeps Wooster to Claim Top Spot in NCAC

SPRINGFIELD, OH – Wittenberg Softball is sitting pretty and alone at the top of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) after a sweep of Wooster in scores of 6-2 and 3-1 at Betty Doughman Dillahunt Field on Saturday, April 25.

With the win, the Tigers are 21-13 overall and 10-2 in the NCAC for first place with two league games remaining against Oberlin after DePauw dropped the first game of its doubleheader against John Carroll, 8-7 in eight innings, and now has three conference losses. The top four teams in the NCAC advance to the NCAC Tournament on May 7-9, with the first-place finisher earning hosting rights.

In game one, the Tigers came out swinging, scoring two runs in the first, three in the third, and one more in the fourth. Wittenberg had six runs on eight hits, while holding Wooster to just two runs that came across to score in the top of the seventh inning on seven total hits.

Ava Cyphers (Dayton, OH / Vandalia Butler) had a big game, going 2-for-2 with a home run and a double, for two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Bekah Giel (Amelia, OH / West Clermont) was also 2-for-2 with two RBI, two runs scored, and three stolen bases. Bailey Nichols (Tucson, AZ / Sabino) was 2-for-3 with a run scored, Meghan McCans (Arcanum, OH / Arcanum) was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored, and Rowan Goodpasture (Wabash, IN / Southwood) was 1-for-2 with a double. Shyann Beddow (Kearns, UT / Kearns) knocked in the other Tiger run.

Julie Hall (Powell, OH / Bishop Watterson) tallied the win on the mound, pitching 6.1 innings and allowing two runs on seven hits, two walks, while striking out two. It was her eighth win of the season.

In game two, Wittenberg's three runs all came in the third inning and would hold up for the big win as Tiger pitchers held the Fighting Scots to just one run, which came across the plate in the seventh inning. Wittenberg had three runs on four hits, while Wooster only plated the one run on six hits.

In the third inning, McCans singled up the middle to score Goodpasture, Gada Bryant (Westville, IL / Bismarck-Henning) singled to score McCans, then Giel tripled to bring in Bryant. Beddow also had a double in the game.

Lilly Shaw (Washington Courthouse, OH / Washington) went 6.2 innings, allowing just one run on six hits while fanning three. Lilly James (Troy, OH / Troy) came in to close the door in the final inning and pick up her eighth save of the season.

Up Next

Wittenberg will host Otterbein in a non-conference battle on Sunday, April 26, at 1 and 3 p.m. It will be Senior Recognition Day at Betty Doughman Dillahunt Field.

Written By: Cindy Holbrook