Katelyn Beddow

The Wittenberg softball team has had an up and down start to the 2004 season, hence the 7-7 record on the ledger thus far. With four doubleheaders scheduled for the next five days, including two against North Coast Athletic Conference rivals, the Tigers are hoping they are now prepared to defend their conference crown earned in 2003.

Last week, the Tigers lost twice at home to nationally ranked perennial powerhouse Muskingum on Wednesday, 8-1 and 7-0, but then rebounded for home wins over Wilmington on Thursday, 7-1 and 5-4 in eight innings.

Against Muskingum, a College World Series participant a year ago as champion of the Great Lakes Region, the Tigers were simply overmatched. In the two games, the Muskies outhit the Tigers 26-4 and allowed Wittenberg just one run in the first game on a walk and a double by senior Carmen Montgomery (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern).

Against Wilmington, however, the Tigers may have proven something to themselves. Coming off those two losses, junior Norah Gillam (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) made a six-run first inning stand up by tossing a complete-game four-hitter in the first game.

In the nightcap, the Tigers rallied from behind three different times and won the game in extra innings in a most improbable fashion. With two outs and the bases empty, junior Katie Carver (Enon, Ohio/Greenon) started things with a single and junior Jen Fleming (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne) coaxed a walk. Then freshman Erin Collingsworth (Springfield, Ohio/Catholic Central) hit a grounder to third base that took a crazy hop for an RBI single that tied the game. After juniorAshley Lands (Dover, Ohio/Dover) singled to load the bases, sophomore Katelyn Beddow (Lexington, Ohio/Ashland) drove home the winning run with a line drive single to left field.

Monday's games against Otterbein were postponed due to rain, meaning that the thrilling doubleheader victories against Wilmington will now serve as a springboard into Saturday's doubleheader against Oberlin. Three games this week have been postponed due to the rain, cold and field conditions.