Hanover, IN – The Wittenberg University softball team returned to Hanover College for another doubleheader slate on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers took game one from the Panthers by a final score of 6-1. Wittenberg had to come from behind in game two, scoring five runs in the seventh, taking the series with a 7-3 game-two win. The Tigers put together 27 hits on the afternoon, Elise Freeland tallied six hits in seven at-bats on the afternoon, scoring five runs for the Red and White. Katelyn Niswonger helped propel the Tigers to a game-one win, tossing five innings of shutout ball for the Tigers.

Game One Breakdown

The Wittenberg offense was led by Freeland, going 3 for 4, logging two runs, and an RBI. Julia Burch, Megan Niswonger and Nikki Hawkins each tallied multiple hits for the Tigers in the first game, tallying two hits apiece. The Tigers got the scoring started early, jumping out early to a 2-0 after the second inning, scoring a run in each of the first two innings. The Wittenberg offense erupted in the sixth inning, pouring on three-runs, beginning with an RBI single by Alex Gibson to score Burch. Sam Lindsey stepped in to smack a two-RBI single, bringing around Hawkins and Clara Andersen. Katelyn Niswonger picked up her fourth win of the season, tossing her fourth complete game of the early 2021 campaign. Niswonger allowed just six hits, with one run allowed while striking out four.

Game Two Breakdown

Though Wittenberg was the first to strike, plating their first run in the top of the first inning. Hanover responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. The Tigers and Panthers were deadlocked from the second through the fourth with Hanover maintaining the 2-1 advantage. Wittenberg brought things back to even at 2-2 in the fifth inning, as Burch drove in Freeland on the hard-hit grounder to the left side. The Tiger offense came alive in the seventh inning, starting with a solo homer by Freeland, giving Wittenberg their first lead of the game at 3-2. Aggressive baserunning by the Tigers added two more runs to the Red and White advantage. Wittenberg kept their foot on the gas, as Hawkins took advantage of her speed and swiped home for the third Tiger run of the inning. The Tigers capped off the scoring rally in the seventh with back-to-back RBI singles from Gibson and Alexis Christy. Mary Britton got her first start in the circle for the Red and White in game two, tossing seven innings with 13 hits allowed and striking out two.

UP NEXT

Wittenberg will return to action on Sunday, March 21 traveling to Transylvania University for the Pioneer Classic. The Tigers will take on host Transylvania at 2:00 pm, before taking on nationally ranked and NCAC foe DePauw at 4:00 pm in a non-conference match-up.