Softball

2016 NCAC Tournament Champs | 2017 Regular Season Champs

18 Run First Inning and Combined No-No Highlight Sweep

18 Run First Inning and Combined No-No Highlight Sweep

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio—Wittenberg swept Kenyon College in historic fashion on Friday afternoon, as Chelsea Zang and Katelyn Niswonger pitched a combined no-hitter for the Tigers. The 19-0 win over Kenyon served as the second Tiger no-hitter of the season, and the second of the week for that matter, as Wittenberg's offense quite possibly outshined their efforts in the circle on Friday. Wittenberg exploded for 18 runs in the bottom of the first inning on 15 hits, capped off by a Missy Lee grand slam. Wittenberg picked up where they left off in game two, winning the six-inning game 12-4.

GAME ONE NOTES: After Kenyon went one-two-three in the top half of the inning, the stage was set for Wittenberg to do the unthinkable. The Tigers totaled 15 hits in the bottom of the first, batting around three times, as six Tigers recorded multiple hits in the frame. Wittenberg scored 12 runs before the Ladies recorded an out, as the final blow came off the bat of Lee, who sent a Kenyon offering over the left-center field wall for a grand slam, pushing the Tiger lead to 18-0 in the bottom of the first. Zang logged two innings of work, while Niswonger came in and shut the door for the remaining three, as the Tigers recorded their second no-hitter of the season. The duo in the circle recorded four groundouts and six strikeouts in their combined five innings of work. Lee led the Tigers with five RBI's and three hits, while Katy Baumgartner, Rachel Black, Alex Gibson and Abby Curnutte all recorded two RBIs.

GAME TWO NOTES: Wittenberg trailed Kenyon 3-1 in the top of the third before going off for six runs of their own in the bottom of the third. A Victoria Toetz triple, and an Alex Gibson double did most of the damage in the bottom of the third, as the two teams went on to the fourth inning with the Tigers on top 9-3. In the bottom of the fifth, Wittenberg added on some insurance runs after Kenyon recorded one in the top of the fifth. A Toetz double plated Lee, while Gibson struck again with a single to center field, plating Toetz. In the end, Wittenberg's starter Abby Haab was too much for Kenyon, as the senior went the distance for the Tigers. Haab moved to 6-7 on the year, after surrendering four runs and striking out six in 6 innings of work.

UP NEXT: Wittenberg is back in action on Wednesday, April 18 against DePauw in Greencastle, Indiana.