SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Heading into the 2006 North Coast Athletic Conference schedule, the Wittenberg Tigers got just what the doctor ordered - a second consecutive nonconference doubleheader sweep. This one featured solid pitching and defense and timely hitting in 11-3 and 4-3 victories over the visiting Albion Britons.
The Tigers evened their record at 10-10 overall going into a key NCAC match-up on Wednesday against 2005 conference tournament champion Ohio Wesleyan. That doubleheader is also at Wittenberg's Betty Dillahunt Field.
Wittenberg got off to a tremendous start in the opener as sophomore Amy Myser capped a four-run first-inning rally with a three-run double. After scoring a pair of runs in the third inning, the Tigers ended things early with a five-spot in the bottom of the sixth. A grand slam by sophomore Taryn Hensel, the first home run of her career, stretched the lead to 11-3 and invoked the run rule.
The offensive outburst made a winner out of freshman Alisha Degenhart, who allowed six hits and two walks in six innings. The Britons scored three runs in the game, aided by three Wittenberg errors.
The second game was a much different story as Albion got the upper hand with three runs in the second inning against Tigers ace Rachael Hatcher, a freshman who went on to win her sixth game against three losses on the season. Albion managed just one hit and just two baserunners total after the second inning, however, as Hatcher settled down and gave her team an opportunity to rally.
The Tigers staged their rally in the fourth inning as they capitalized on an Albion error to string five hits together and score four runs. Sophomore Sarah Fetters, junior Lucy Huelsman, Myser and junior Grace Wigton drove in the runs.