SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - It would hard to imagine a more perfect way for the Wittenberg softball team to kick off the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) portion of the 2014 schedule after the Tigers demolished arch-rival Wooster by scores of 11-1 and 10-2 on a bright, sunny afternoon at Betty Dillahunt Field.
The wins gave the Tigers an important leg up on the NCAC competition. Overall, the Tigers stand 12-2 heading into another important league showdown on Saturday, April 5, at Ohio Wesleyan. Wooster fell to 10-11 overall and 2-2 in the NCAC.
In the opener, the Tigers broke out the lumber in support of another sterling pitching performance from senior Rachel Ross (Westerville, Ohio/South). In improving to 8-1 on the season, Ross hurled five innings of two-hit ball, striking out three and walking just one. The Scots managed just a lone run in the second inning on back-to-back hits, their only two of the game.
Ross also led the way offensively, collecting two of the biggest hits in a nine-hit attack. Her home run in the bottom of the first inning kickstarted the rout, and her two-run double in the third was a key blow in what turned out to be a back-breaking eight-run outburst.
Senior Laura Rose (Riverside, Ohio/Stebbins) went 1-for-3 with a run score, two RBIs and a stolen base, sophomore Kaela Hughes (Dublin, Ohio/Watterson) added two hits and two runs scored and freshman Casey Hobbs (Fairborn, Ohio/Carroll) drove in the game-winning runs with a two-run homer in the second inning.
Ross finished the job in Game 2, as the Tigers again broke out the bats to limit the contest to just five innings. Ross allowed six hits but did not walk a batter as she yielded two runs (one earned). She improved to 9-1 on the season and move into second place on the Wittenberg career wins list with 45, surpassing Carey Oakes.
Rose added two hits and two RBIs, and she stole the 62nd base of her illustrious Wittenberg career. That moved Rose into first place on the program's career stolen bases list.
Also of note, Hughes went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs, sophomore Shannon Lance (Maineville, Ohio/Kings) also went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI, and Hobbs drove in three more.