WILMINGTON, Ohio - What looked like a mismatch on paper turned into a dogfight. When the dust had settled on a doubleheader that featured a little bit of everything, the Wittenberg Tigers and Wilmington Quakers each had one win to show for their efforts.
The split left the Tigers with a 25-11 overall record. The non-conference finale was a final tune-up for the Tigers, who head to Allegheny on Saturday for a doubleheader that will likely determine second place in the final North Coast Athletic Conference standings. Wilmington, which came into the doubleheader against Wittenberg on a 22-game losing streak, is now 4-31 overall.
The opener was a pitchers' duel as Wittenberg freshman Brooke Boswell (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield) allowed just an unearned run in the second inning on four hits and no walks. However, the Tiger offense was limited to five hits. Despite a double by junior Nicole Ottavi (Columbus, Ohio/Whetstone) and a triple by senior Grace Wigton (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Christian), the Tigers stranded all five baserunners in the game.
The nightcap appeared to be going Wittenberg's way before the Quakers struck for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the score at 7-7. The Tigers came right back, however, with a whopping eight runs on seven hits in the top of the eighth inning. Senior Stephanie Zorn (Grapevine, Texas/Colleyville), senior Lucy Huelsman (Wellington, Ohio/Wellington) and sophomore Rachael Hatcher (West Carrollton, Ohio/West Carrollton) drove in runs with doubles before Boswell erased any doubts with her first career grand slam.
Also of note, junior Sarah Fetters (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee) went a perfect 6-for-6 in the game from her leadoff spot.