MEADVILLE, Pa.—Wittenberg softball opened up NCAC play in a big way on Saturday, as the Tigers exploded for 25 runs in ten innings against the Gators of Allegheny.  Wittenberg saw both Chelsea Zang and Abby Haab earn wins, as the Tigers supported both starters with 25 hits in the mercy-rule shortened five inning contests.

GAME ONE SCORING BREAKDOWN

1^st Inning

• Olivia Hopkins broke the seal for Wittenberg, scoring on an illegal pitch for the Tigers.

Top 4^th

• Wendy Hawk singled home Savannah Taylor as the Tigers led 2-0.
• Abby Baker doubled deep to center-field, plating sophomore Elyssa LaBine.
• Sophomore Katy Baumgartner followed up Baker's double with an RBI single up the middle that scored Hawk.
• Hopkins sacrificed a hit for a run, as the shortstop grounded out to her counterpart for the Gators, plating Baumgartner, as the Tigers led 5-0.
• Casey Hobbs capped off the big fourth inning, scoring Missy Lee on a single up the middle.

Top 5^th

• Zang crossed home plate in the top of the fifth after scoring on a Gator wild pitch.
• Toetz scored on the following play as the Gator right-fielder dropped a fly ball off the bat of Baker.
• Hobbs followed up Baker with a double to right-center, scoring Lee and Baumgartner.
• Abby Curnutte kept the inning alive with a two-RBI double to right-center field, plating Hopkins and Hobbs.
• Wittenberg would take a 13-0 lead off of a Toetz single scoring Curnutte, and a 14-0 lead after Hawk reached on an error, scoring Zang.

GAME TWO SCORING BREAKDOWN

Top 1^st

• Toetz opened up the scoring for the Tigers in the top of the first, singling up the middle, scoring Hobbs.
• Hawk followed up Toetz with a two-RBI single to right field, as Courtney Lopez and Lauren Buelow crossed the plate for Wittenberg.

Top 4^th

• Hobbs put the Tigers up 4-0 after singling to center field, plating game two's starting pitcher, Haab.
• Curnutte reached on an error in the fourth, allowing Lee to score on the play.
• On a wild pitch from Allegheny's pitcher, Hobbs scored as Curnutte moved up to third base.
• The Tigers were able to take a 7-0 lead after Hawk reached on an error by the left-fielder, allowing Curnutte to score.

Top 5^th

• Hobbs racked up two more RBI's for Wittenberg, this time on a single to right-field, scoring LaBine and Baumgartner.
• Curnutte capped off the Tiger's 11-0 win with a long ball to deep left-field, scoring Hobbs.

KEY STATS

• Wittenberg was paced at the plate by Hobbs, who recorded six RBI's on the day.
• Haab moved to 4-4 on the year after surrendering three hits over five innings of work, while Zang moved to 9-1 after surrendering two hits over her five innings of work.