Softball Tallies Two More on Senior Recognition Day
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
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3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 3 | 8 | 0 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 1 |
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3 | 1 | 7 | 2 | X | 13 | 10 | 1 |
SPRINGFIELD, OH – Wittenberg Softball notched its second-straight sweep, this time downing visiting Otterbein in scores of 3-2 and 13-2, on Senior Recognition Day, Sunday, April 26, at Betty Doughman Dillahunt Field. The Tigers are now 23-13 on the season and are currently riding a four-game win streak.
Before the game, the Tigers celebrated their four seniors in Gada Bryant (Westville, IL / Bismarck-Henning), Kayla Drake (Wilmington, OH / Clinton-Massie), Julie Hall (Powell, OH / Bishop Watterson), and Lilly James (Troy, OH / Troy), along with graduate student Meghan McCans (Arcanum, OH / Arcanum).
Bryant, earning a degree in sport management, plans to return to Wittenberg to study for her master's in sport administration while being a graduate assistant for the women's wrestling team. Drake will graduate with a degree in exercise science and minors in biology and psychology. After graduation, she plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh to continue her education towards chiropractic medicine. Hall will graduate with a degree in marketing with minors in sport management and religion. She plans to pursue a career in business with a focus on marketing. She is also working for the Columbus Clippers for a second season this summer.
James will graduate with her BSN in Nursing and plans to pass her NCLEX and become a labor and delivery or postpartum nurse in the near future. McCans, who is graduating with a master's degree in sports administration, plans to go back home to find a job in the sports field while also coaching.
In the non-conference matchup on the diamond, Wittenberg squeaked by Otterbein in game one, scoring all its runs in the first inning on eight total hits. The Cardinals gave the Tigers a scare by putting two on the board in the fifth inning; however, Wittenberg pitching put the brakes on to hold on for the victory.
McCans, Bekah Giel (Amelia, OH / West Clermont), and Bailey Nichols (Tucson, AZ / Sabino) were each 2-for-3 at the plate. McCans, Bryant, and Giel each scored a run, while Bryant, Giel, and Kirsten Wright (Springfield, OH / Kenton Ridge) each drove in one. Bryant, Giel, and Shyann Beddow (Kearns, UT / Kearns) had a double in the game, while McCans, Giel, and Drake each stole a base.
Seniors Hall and James combined duties on the mound, with Hall going 3.2 innings and allowing four hits and four walks while striking out four to capture her fifth win of the season. James went 3.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, while punching out five to earn her ninth save of the season.
In game two, the Tiger bats were hot, as they scored in each of first four innings of play, putting three on the board in the first, one in the second, a seven-spot in the third, and two more in the fourth. Witt had 13 runs on 10 hits, while keeping the Cardinals to just two runs in the second inning on a total of nine hits to seal the 13-2 win.
Giel drove in six runs in the big win, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and a run scored. McCans was 1-for-1 with three walks and four runs scored. Bryant was 1-for-2 with a walk, two runs scored, and two RBI. Ava Cyphers (Dayton, OH / Vandalia Butler) went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Wright was 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI. Nichols was also 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, and Drake had a hit and an RBI. Rowan Goodpasture (Wabash, IN / Southwood) and Olivia Cunningham (Parker, CO / Ponderosa) each scored a run as well for the Tigers. McCans led the team in stolen bases with three, while Bryant added two. Cyphers and Nichols each grabbed one stolen base.
Phoebe Underwood (Seymour, IN / Seymour) went the distance on the mound to pick up her seventh win of the season. She went five innings, allowing just two runs on nine hits with a walk and one strikeout.
Wittenberg Softball currently occupies first place in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) at 10-2, while DePauw is 9-3. Denison and Kenyon are both 7-5 going into the final week of regular-season play.
Up Next
Wittenberg will travel to Wilmington for another non-conference doubleheader on April 29 at 3 and 5 p.m.
Written By: Cindy Holbrook