Springfield, Ohio – The Wittenberg University softball team dropped a tough home battle to the Tigers of DePauw University in the NCAC twinbill from Betty Doughman Dillahunt Field. The Red and White rallied back from an early 1-0 deficit in game one, holding on to a 3-1 advantage heading into the seventh, before going down 5-3 in game one. Wittenberg fell in game two by a final score of 7-2 as DePauw produced all their offense early and didn't relinquish their lead. Wittenberg tallied 13 hits on the day, as Miss Lee tallied three hits on the afternoon and two RBI's in the final game of the series.
Game One Breakdown
Wittenberg battled the back and forth with DePauw through the early going, as the visitors took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Wittenberg rallied back in the bottom of the third, posting three runs on three hits and taking advantage of two DePauw errors. The Wittenberg scoring rally started with a Megan Niswonger two-RBI single to center field, bringing around Elise Freeland and Lauren Buelow. After Aubrie Stillings reached on the bunt single earlier in the inning, she later came around to score for the third Wittenberg run, forcing the DePauw throwing error. The stalemate continued until the seventh inning when DePauw posted four runs to regain the 5-3 lead before the Red and White went three up three down to close out the first game in the bottom half of the inning.
Katelyn Niswonger tossed six and two-thirds innings for Wittenberg with four strikeouts to her credit and nine hits allowed to start the series.
Game Two Breakdown
Wittenberg struggled to get the offense going in game two, as DePauw exploded for seven runs in the top of the third inning. With all the DePauw production coming in one inning, the Red and White began to chip away at the DePauw lead as Lee reached on the fielder's choice in the bottom half of the third, bringing home Freeland. Lee produced the only other Wittenberg RBI in the game with a sacrifice fly to center field in the bottom of the fifth inning to bring home Buelow for the second Wittenberg run of the game.
UP NEXT
Wittenberg will celebrate Senior Day and welcome back Tiger softball alumni on Saturday, April 27 when they host the Big Red of Denison University for a doubleheader series at 1:00 PM from Betty Doughman Dillahunt Field.