Norah Gillam

The Tiger softball team may be picking up steam at just the right time. Two North Coast Athletic Conference doubleheader sweeps over rivals Ohio Wesleyan and Oberlin last week and a split with one of the preseason favorites, Wooster, on Tuesday put the Tigers atop the standings with a 5-1 record.

In the victories over OWU, the decisions were both dramatic and both by 3-2 scores. In the opener, the Tigers trailed 2-0 until the top of the seventh inning, when they scored three runs with two outs to take a one-run lead.Then sophomoreNorah Gillam (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) finished what she started on the mound to earn her third win of the season.

In the nightcap, strong pitching, this time by sophomore Jen Fleming (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne), was a key to victory again. While Fleming was holding OWU in check on the mound, senior outfielder Beth Walters (Westerville, Ohio/Columbus DeSales) collected two hits and two RBI, one of which came on her NCAC-leading second home run of the season. Junior Carmen Montgomery (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern) added two hits and a run from the leadoff spot.

Against Oberlin, the Tigers simply dominated. In the opener, Gillam tossed a complete-game one-hitter and also collected a pair of base hits. The offense scored eight runs to end things in the sixth inning, powered primarily by two hits and two RBI each from junior Kristen Hillebrand (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) and freshman Kelly Sasavicz (Massillon, Ohio/Massillon).

Against Wooster, the Tigers earned a very important doubleheader split behind Flemings outstanding pitching in the second game. In the 3-0 victory, Fleming allowed just two hits while the offense got a lift from sophomore Katie Niemeyer (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay). In the opener, the Tigers fell 4-1 despite Gillams complete-game pitching performance and her RBI.

In recognition of her outstanding performance last week, Norah Gillam was named NCAC Pitcher of the Week.

With warmer temperatures forecast for the weekend, the Tigers will try to thaw out with another important NCAC doubleheader on Saturday against Hiram and a road trip to Defiance on Sunday.