Softball Tallies Split in NCAC Opener at Denison

GRANVILLE, OH – Going up against a tough opponent in Denison in its initial North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) pairing of the season, Wittenberg earned a split on the day, losing 7-5 in game one, then flipping the script and posting a 7-5 win in game two on Saturday, March 28, at Big Red Field in Granville, Ohio.

In game one action, both teams scored in the first inning with Denison gaining a 3-2 advantage. Wittenberg tied it at 3-all in the third before Denison tacked on two more in the fourth to go ahead 5-4. The Big Red added two more insurance runs in the fifth to secure the win, while the Tigers were able to put one more on the board in the seventh.

Witt scored five runs on seven hits with one error, while the Big Red had seven runs on seven hits and two errors. The big difference in the game for Denison was its three doubles and a home run to top the Tigers.

Julie Hall (Powell, OH / Bishop Watterson) took the loss on the mound for the Tigers and is now 3-3 on the season.

Game one stats for Wittenberg included Kirsten Wright (Springfield, OH / Kenton Ridge) going 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Bekah Giel (Amelia, OH / West Clermont) was 2-for-3. Other Tigers with a hit included Kayla Drake (Wilmington, OH / Clinton-Massie), Meghan McCans (Arcanum, OH / Arcanum), and Kennedy Reed (Lewis Center, OH / Olentangy Orange). Drake scored two runs, and Giel, Gada Bryant (Westville, IL / Bismarck-Henning), and McCans each scored one apiece. Drake also had two RBI and Wright added another. McCans, Bryant, Drake, and Giel each had two stolen bases and Wright, Ava Cyphers (Dayton, OH / Vandalia Butler), and Bailey Nichols (Tucson, AZ / Sabino) each had another. 

The Wittenberg offense got off to a slow start in game two, but the lineup caught fire in the sixth and seventh innings. With Denison holding a 2-1 edge after five innings, a spree of hits just over second base and into center field put the Tigers back in the game. Reed hit a line drive just over the pitcher to centerfield that scored a run to tie things at 2-2 in the top of the 6th with two outs. She then stole second and came home when Shyann Beddow (Kearns, UT / Kearns) landed another single over second base, moving Reed to third. Beddow went to second on the throw home to keep Reed at third. Nichols then blasted another hit over second to score both runners and give the Tigers a 4-2 advantage. 

Wittenberg added three insurance runs in the seventh when McCans led off the inning with a bunt single and moved to second on a steal, and to third on a bunt. Drake singled to right field to score McCans and put Witt up 5-2. Rowan Goodpasture (Wabash, IN / Southwood) pinch ran for Drake and stole second with Wright at the plate. Wright made it to first on a walk as Goodpasture stole third. Giel then brought both runners home on a bunt single that went through the legs of the pitcher to score two and put the Tigers ahead 7-2.

As it turned out, the insurance runs were needed as Denison would score three more in the bottom of the seventh as Lilly Shaw (Washington Courthouse, OH / Washington) got into a little trouble on the mound before giving way to Phoebe Underwood (Seymour, IN / Seymour), who was able to close the door and secure the split for the Tigers, now 10-7 overall and 1-1 in the conference. Denison drops to 7-11 and 1-1 in the conference.

McCans was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, Drake was 1-for-3 with an RBI, Reed was 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, Beddow was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, Nichols was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a double, and Wright scored two runs. Goodpasture and Wright each had two stolen bases, while McCans and Reed each had one.

Up Next

Wittenberg will travel to Earlham for a non-conference doubleheader on March 31, with games taking place at 3 and 5 p.m.

Written By: Cindy Holbrook