KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Wittenberg Tigers opened the 2006 season with a pair of close games, coming away with a split. The Tigers defeated the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 3-1, before losing to the College Misericordia, 3-2.
In the opener, freshman Rachael Hatcher made her collegiate debut a successful one, tossing a complete-game victory. She allowed seven hits and no walks while allowing just the one earned run.
Offensively, the Tigers managed just two hits, but combined with five walks they did the trick. Taryn Hensel doubled in a run in the second inning, Rachael Hatcher drove in another run as she reached base on an error in the second inning, and Stephanie Zorn rounded out the scoring as she came around in the sixth inning without the benefit of a hit.
In the second game of the day, junior Grace Wigton was the hard-luck loser in the pitching circle as she went the distance, allowing five hits and three walks. One of the three Misericordia runs was unearned.
For the second straight game, the Tigers were held in check offensively, this time managing just three hits. Still, the Tigers held a slim 2-1 advantage after pushing an unearned run across in the third inning and getting another run on a Sarah Fetters RBI single.
Misericordia scored twice in the sixth inning, taking advantage of two Wittenberg errors, to escape with the victory.