GREENCASTLE, Ohio—Wittenberg Tiger softball captured its second NCAC tournament championship in school history on Saturday, after defeating the Tigers of DePauw 12-3. DePauw pushed the Tigers to a second game on Saturday, as the winner take all game was forced by 5-2 DePauw win in game one.
Wittenberg did nothing short of impress all tournament long, coming from behind in their opening game against Denison in a nine-inning 6-5 victory, followed by another come from behind victory over Ohio Wesleyan 7-3. In the championship game, the Tigers were led at the plate by freshman Katy Baumgartner (Fishers, Indiana/Cathedral) who managed to record two RBI's, a triple, and score two runs. The biggest blow of the tournament came from Charlee Clark (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) who crushed a grand slam to end the game due to run rule, giving the Tigers the championship in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Consistency on the mound has bee key part to the Tigers 32-7-1 mark thus far, as sophomore Chelsea Zang (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) toed the rubber for the Tigers in the championship game, earning her 18th victory of the season after dealing 4.1 innings of three-hit softball. Sophomore hurler Abby Haab (Dublin, Ohio/Jerome) sealed the deal for the Tigers, recording the save in the championship tilt.
TOURNAMENT NOTES
- After batting .533 in the four game tournament, Casey Hobbs (Fairborn, Ohio/Carroll) was named NCAC tournament Most Valuable Player.
- The junior second basemen was 8-15 on the weekend, recorded seven RBI's slugged a double and a home run, while stealing two bags for the Tigers.
- Kaela Hughes (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Watterson), Loren Combs (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin), and Zang were also named to the All-Tournament team after strong performances.
- The fifth and sixth innings were very good to the Tigers on the weekend, as the team scored 18 runs in these innings, nearly half of their tournament runs.
- Wittenberg dropped a seven spot on DePauw in the championship game in the sixth inning after posting five runs in the fifth inning against OWU the day before.
- The Tigers 32-7-1 mark is the programs best record, dating back to the 1980 season.
UP NEXT
- The Division III Softball Selection Show will air on NCAA.com on Monday at 1 p.m. The Tigers and three other teams will begin regional tournament action on either Thursday or Friday.