Tiger Offense Stymied In Doubleheader Sweep By Muskingum

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers banged out 16 hits in two games, but they managed to score just three runs, leading to a pair of non-conference losses to visiting Muskingum.

Wittenberg fell to 19-9 overall on the 2014 season, heading into a crucial twinbill at North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) rival Hiram on Saturday, April 26. The Tigers stand 9-5 in league play and figure to need nothing more than a split of the two games to assure themselves a berth in the NCAC Tournament next week.

Muskingum, which is fighting for tournament positioning in the Ohio Athletic Conference, improved to 22-14 on the season.

In the opener, freshman Alyssa Durette (Geneva, NY/Geneva) sailed through the first three innings without allowing a run before running into trouble in the fourth. The Muskies pushed across four runs in the inning before sophomore Kaela Hughes (Columbus, Ohio/Watterson) came on in relief.

Hughes held Muskingum scoreless the rest of the way, but Wittenberg's offense continued to struggle. The Tigers collected seven hits, but only senior Laura Rose (Riverside, Ohio/Stebbins) managed to cross home plate after hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

In Game 2, Muskingum tallied three times in the top of the first, but Wittenberg answered with a pair in the bottom of the inning on RBI singles from freshman Abby Baker (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) and senior Kaitie Harrison (Springfield, Ohio/Kenton Ridge). From that point, however, Wittenberg was stymied again, while Muskingum pushed across insurance runs in the sixth and seventh frames.

Senior Rachel Ross (Westerville, Ohio/South) tossed a complete game but took the loss, her sixth of the season against 14 wins. Sophomore Loren Combs (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin), Baker and junior Ashlee Wright (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) each collected two hits in the game.