TUSCON, Arizona—Wittenberg opened up the 2018 softball season in sunny Arizona against MIT on March 2, as the Tigers fell 8-0 in the season's opener. In the five-inning affair, the Tigers could not solve MIT's starting pitcher, as the Tigers were held to just two hits in the contest. Wittenberg trailed 2-0 going into the fourth inning, while MIT was able to tack on four runs in the third, one in the fourth, and one in the fifth, resulting in a run-ruled shortened contest.
OFFENSIVE NOTES: Olivia Hopkins and Katy Baumgartner recorded the only two hits for the Tigers on the day, as Wittenberg stranded five in the loss. As a team, Wittenberg only struck out twice, while MIT's starter handed out four free-passes in the season's first contest. Elise Freeland drew two of those four walks out of the two-hole, while Abby Curnutte and Elaina Adams drew the others.
DEFENSIVE NOTES: Wittenberg fell victim to three costly errors in the opener, as four of MIT's eight runs were earned. Starter Abby Haab logged 4.1 innings of work in her first outing of the year, as the senior southpaw scattered nine hits while striking out three in the 8-0 loss. Only two of MIT's nine base hits went for extra bases, as Haab issued one walk in the game.
UP NEXT: Wittenberg is back in action later in the day against East Texas Baptist University