Tiger Win First Games After Successful Spring Break

COLUMBUS, OH - The Tiger softball team traveled to Columbus to take on Capital for their first doubleheader since returning from a tremendously successful Spring Break trip to Florida. Already on a four-game win streak, the Tigers extended their streak by winning both games by scores of 5-3 and 8-5. After the wins, the Tiger's record improves to 10-2, while the Comets fall to 4-6 on the season.

Samantha Zungri (Canal Winchester, OH / Canal Winchester) started in the circle for the Tigers and threw five and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk while also recording a strikeout to get the win. Lilly James (Troy, OH / Troy) game in to throw the final one and a third innings, allowing only one hit while striking out two and walking only one to recorde the save.

Capital started the scoring with a run in the first inning, but Wittenberg answered in the top of the third with an RBI single from Rebekah Giel (Amelia, OH / West Clermont) to tie the game. The Tigers added another run in the fourth on another RBI single from Kaela May (Tipp City, OH / Tippecanoe). In the sixth, the Tigers added to their lead on a sacrifice bunt from Hanna Ecker (Heath, OH / Heath) and an RBI single from Kyleigh Bartlett (Beavercreek, OH / Beavercreek) extend the lead to 4-1. The Comets scored two in the bottom of the inning on a single to the outfield to cut the lead to one, but Wittenberg answered in the top of the seventh with another run as Giel grounded out to get a run across the plate for the last run of the game.

Game One Team Leaders

• Kirsten Wright (Springfield, OH / Kenton Ridge) and Diana Quevedo (La Quinta, CA / La Quinta) each posted two hits to lead the team.
• Giel led the team in RBIs with two, as three other players notched one each.
• Five different Tigers scored a run and two were able to draw walks while three recorded a single stolen base.

Game One Team Comparison

• The Tigers recorded eight hits to the Comets' five and three stolen bases to Capital's none.
• The Wittenberg pitching staff struck out three batters to the Comets' two.
• Both teams logged just one extra base hit and neither team recorded an error.

Game Two

Julie Hall (Powell, OH / Bishop Watterson) started Game 2, throwing three and two-thirds innings and allowing four runs on seven hits with no walks or strikeouts. James once again came in to relieve Hall, and she threw three and a third innings, allowing one run on two hits and a walk while also recording a strikeout to get the win.

Capital put up three runs in the first inning to put the Tigers in a big hole and have no choice but to play catch-up. Wittenberg answered in the third with a single from Wright that scored two, followed by an Ecker sacrifice bunt to score another before Quevedo added another RBI on a single to the outfield. The Comets then tied the game at four in the bottom of the third with an RBI single.

In the fifth, the Tigers took the lead on a RBI single to the third base side by Zungri. Wittenberg then built on their lead in the sixth as Meghan McCans (Arcanum, OH / Arcanum) hit a solo, inside the park, home run and Wright pushed across another run on a single and Ecker added another home run in the inning to get the lead to 8-4. Capital was able to add another run in the sixth before a scoreless seventh to finish the game at 8-5.

Game Two Team Leaders

• Wright led the team in both hits and RBIs with three of each and Ecker was second in RBIs with two.
• Julia Burch (Dublin, OH / Dublin Jerome) and McCans paced the team in runs with two apiece.
• Zungri also led the team in steals with two and two players were each able to draw a walk.

Game Two Team Comparison

• The Tigers finished the gam with 12 hits to the Comets nine and four stolen bases to Capital's one.
• Wittenberg also had two home runs to the Comets' none and the Capital pitching staff walked two batters compared to just one from the Tigers.

The Tigers next game is Saturday, March 22, where they will take on Earlham in a doubleheader at home with the first pitch of Game 1 scheduled for 1:00 p.m.