Katie Gildow

The Tiger softball team continued to play well last week, splitting a doubleheader with fellow North Coast Athletic Conference title contender Wooster on Tuesday, sweeping conference rival Hiram on Saturday and splitting a doubleheader with Defiance on Sunday. The action brought the Tigers to 16-12 overall, and more importantly 7-1 in the NCAC heading into the stretch run of the 2003 season.

Against Wooster, the Tigers dropped Game 1 4-1 before rallying for the split behind the masterful pitching of sophomore Jen Fleming (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne), who allowed just two hits and two walks in a complete-game shutout 3-0 victory. Sophomore Katie Niemeyer (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay) had the biggest offensive blow of the day, driving in two runs with a fourth-inning double.

Against Hiram, Wittenberg simply dominated in capturing a pair of shutout run-rule shortened games by scores of 8-0 and 10-0. In the opener, sophomore Norah Gillam (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) tossed a five-inning, one-hit shutout and juniorCarmen Montgomery (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern) drove in three runs from the leadoff position in the order. In the nightcap, Fleming had a second straight shutout complete-game win and Niemeyer, sophomore Katie Carver (Enon, Ohio/Greenon) and freshman Kelly Sasavicz (Massillon, Ohio/Massillon)each drove in two runs.

Against Defiance, junior Katie Gildow (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) was the hero of Game 1, a 6-5 victory for the Tigers. She drove in the game-winning run in the top of the seventh inning on a two-out double and then pitching a perfect bottom half of the inning to pick up the victory. In Game 2, Defiance put together a pair of four-run innings to take an insurmountable lead and go on to a 10-7 lead. The Tigers did get some strong offensive performances, most notably from sophomore Jennifer Baggett (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek), who had two hits and three runs.

Fleming was named NCAC Pitcher of the Week after hurling her two complete-game shutouts last week. She improved her record on the season to 5-4 and has a 2.84 earned run average.

This is a big week for the Tigers, who start off with a previously postponed game against Thomas More on Tuesday. On Thursday, NCAC leader and two-time defending champion Denison, sporting a 6-0 record in conference play, invades Betty Dillahunt Field for a doubleheader that could determine home field advantage for the upcoming NCAC tournament.