Springfield, Ohio – Wittenberg University’s softball team is off to one of the best starts in program history, piling up nine wins in 10 games during an extremely productive Spring Break trip to Clermont, Fla. National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll voters have taken notice, moving the Tigers into the top 25 for the first time in 14 years. 

Wittenberg checked in at No. 24 in the poll released Wednesday, March 20, by the NFCA following balloting by eight NCAA Division III head coaches representing the eight NCAA regions. The Tigers accumulated 22 points thanks to their 9-1 start. 

The last time Wittenberg made an appearance in the NFCA poll was during the 2000 season. That year, the Tigers posted an overall record of 31-14 after winning the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) title with a 13-1 record. The Tigers made the first of two all-time NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, beating Buffalo State in the opening round before dropping decisions to Alma and Illinois Wesleyan to bow out of the competition. 

The Tigers were dominant in their first 10 games of the 2014 season, racking up an eye-popping .404 batting average on offense as the pitching staff posted a 1.49 earned run average. Wittenberg outscored its first 10 opponents 84-19, with the only loss coming against Simmons by a 10-7 score. 

Individually, Wittenberg is paced by sophomore shortstop Loren Combs (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin), who headed north sporting a .528 batting average, with 16 runs scored and 15 stolen bases in 16 attempts. Also among seven Tigers batting .400 or better is junior catcher Ashlee Wright (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont), who pounded four home runs and drove in 13 during the Spring Break trip. Wittenberg’s school record for homers in a season is five. 

Senior Rachel Ross (Westerville, Ohio/South) leads the Tigers in pitching again in 2014. She went 7-0 during the Spring Break trip, allowing just six earned runs in 37 innings. Ross and Wright swept the NCAC Player of the Week awards announced on Monday, March 18. 

Head Coach Laura Matthews, who has a record of 32-14 in two seasons at the helm, will lead the Tigers back into action with the 2014 home opener at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 22, against Thomas More. Wittenberg was picked to win the NCAC title in preseason balloting by the league’s coaches.

Written By: Ryan Maurer