Win Over MCLA Completes Best Start In Softball History

FORT MYERS, Fla. — A solid 9-2 win over Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts to conclude the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic pushed the Wittenberg softball team to 8-1, the best start in the program's history.

After pushing to 4-0 over the first two days of the Classic to open the season, the Tigers fell to Dominican (Ill.), but proceeded to win four more to close out the week.

"We played some good softball this week and are off to a good start," first-year head coach Laura Matthews said. "I'm really excited about the effort and focus that we brought this week, and I think we learned a lot about ourselves as a team."

The historic stretch beat out the 8-2 start by the 1993 team, helmed by Sheilah Lingenfelter, in which the Tigers went 3-2 over the first five games but then reeled off five straight wins. Other notable starts include 5-1 marks under Becky Hall in 1999 and 2012 and Lingenfelter in 1994, and a 6-1 opening stretch under Hall in 2000.

"It is wonderful to have that distinction, given the great teams that Wittenberg has had in the past," Matthews said. "But we are focused on improving so that we are playing our best softball when our conference schedule rolls around."

Against MCLA, a three-run first inning would prove to be all the Tigers needed to win the game. For good measure, they added two runs in the fifth and a four-spot in the sixth.

The offense benefited from three MCLA errors, and as a result, the lineup needed just eight hits to score the nine total runs. That effort was led by junior Rachel Ross (Westerville, Ohio/South), who pushed two runs across on a 2-for-3 game at the plate. She also scored two runs herself and drew a walk.

Ross also earned the win in the circle on six hits, two runs, seven strikeouts and no walks. She improved to 4-1 with the victory.

Junior Kaitie Harrison (Springfield, Ohio/Kenton Ridge) also finished the game with two RBIs, while freshman Loren Combs (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, freshman Kaela Hughes (Columbus, Ohio/Watterson) was 1-for-4 with an RBI and sophomore Shelby Knapp (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield) was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Altogether, Wittenberg's plate discipline proved strong, as the lineup drew five walks while striking out only twice.

With their spring break trip complete, the Tigers return to Ohio with a full week of rest before their next contest.

"We definitely haven't played our best softball yet," Matthews said. "We're ready to get back to campus and get ready for a tough upcoming schedule."

That upcoming schedule begins with a home doubleheader against John Carroll on Saturday, March 16, scheduled for 1 p.m. at Betty Doughman Dillahunt Field.

John Strawn '07