CLERMONT, Fla. - The Wittenberg Tigers picked up one win and one loss on Day 2 of their annual Spring Break trip to Florida, losing to Berry 9-4 before defeating Simmons 6-1.
After a Day 1 split with Wheaton and Lake Forest, Wittenberg is now 2-2 on the young 2015 season. Berry improved to 7-4, while Simmons is now 2-3.
The Tigers committed three costly errors against Berry, opening the door for two critical unearned runs that helped turn a tense 5-4 game into a commanding 9-4 advantage in the pivotal fifth inning. Freshman Chelsea Zang (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) wound up taking the pitching loss after allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and one walk in three innings.
Wittenberg scored all four runs in the fourth inning. Junior Kaela Hughes (Columbus, Ohio/Watterson) and freshman Sam Bausch (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin) each drove in one run with singles and freshman Charlee Clark (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) provided the big blow with a two-out, two-run triple. Seven different Tigers finished with one hit in the game.
In the day's nightcap, freshman Abby Haab (Dublin, Ohio/Jerome) drew the starting assignment, and she was solid through four innings after throwing the last three against Berry. She scattered six hits and didn't walk a batter while allowing just one earned run.
However, the game was still tied when she gave way to Zang in the pitcher's circle. Zang earned the pitching decision by tossing three innings of shutout softball, allowing just one hit.
A five-run sixth inning gave Zang all the support she would need. Once again, the Tigers spread the offense throughout the lineup, with six different players contributing one hit to the attack. Sophomore Abby Baker (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) started the scoring in the sixth inning on a throwing error, Hughes then drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, Bausch added an RBI on a fielder's choice, and Zang capped the rally with an RBI double to left field before scoring on another error.
Written By: Ryan Maurer