SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers needed a doubleheader sweep on Monday against visiting Wooster. As a vocal, partisan Wittenberg crowd looked on while happily munching on hot dogs that costed just a dime, the Tigers got just that - in most convincing fashion.
The Tigers improved to 18-16 overall and, more importantly, 6-6 in the North Coast Athletic Conference with a stunning display of all-around softball, capturing wins of 15-0 and 9-1 against Wooster, which had entered the day's play one game ahead of Wittenberg in the conference standings. The Scots are now 5-7 in NCAC play and in serious jeopardy of missing the four-team NCAC Tournament.
Wittenberg, on the other hand, may now be in the driver's seat, although the Tigers will still need some assistance to reach the tourney. After winning a pair of run-rule shortened games, the Tigers are now fifth in the NCAC standings heading into the final weekend. Wittenberg hits the road to play a doubleheader against last-place Oberlin on Saturday, while fourth-place Allegheny, which was swept earlier this year by the Tigers and has a 7-5 NCAC record currently, takes on first-place Denison at home. If Wittenberg sweeps the Yeowomen, Allegheny must sweep Denison to maintain fourth place in the final standings.
On Monday, Wittenberg exploded for 15 runs in the first two innings of the opener, setting up an interesting scenario for the host team. Freshman starting pitcher Rachael Hatcher proceeded to cruise through a deflated Wooster lineup five straight times, allowing just a hit, a walk and a runner to reach on an error while keeping her pitch count low. As a result, Hatcher had enough in the tank to work the nightcap, and while Wooster did manage seven hits against her, the Scots were able to push just a lone run across the plate. Hatcher is now 11-6 on the season.
Offensively, the Tigers scored 10 unearned runs in the first inning of the opener and another five unearned runs in the second, thanks to four of Wooster's five errors. With the door opened, the Tiger offense exploded. Sophomore Sarah Fetters, junior Erin Collinsworth, junior Stephanie Zorn and sophomore Nicole Ottavi had two hits apiece, with junior Lucy Huelsman and Collinsworth scoring three runs each. Five different players drove in two runs in the game.
In the second game, Wittenberg exploded for four-run rallies in the second and fifth innings to go along with a single tally in the fourth. Zorn went 4-for-4 with three RBI and Hatcher finished a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBI to spark the offense.