SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers got just what the doctor ordered on Tuesday - a doubleheader sweep of visiting Mount St. Joseph by scores of 6-3 and 7-2.
The wins snapped a string of splits for the Tigers, who went 1-1 on each of the final three days of Spring Break in Florida and then split the home opener against Baldwin-Wallace on Saturday. Wittenberg is now 8-6 overall, heading into Wednesday's long road trip to Transylvania. Mount St. Joseph is now 2-8 on the young season.
The star of the afternoon for the Tigers was unquestionably sophomore Brooke Boswell (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield). She went 3-for-4 at the plate in the opener in support of her own winning pitching performance. Boswell scattered eight hits and two walks, but she allowed just three runs - two earned - in a complete-game victory that moved her to 3-2 on the season.
In the nightcap, Boswell got the Tigers started off right with a first-inning grand slam, the second of her collegiate career. That hit alone made a winner out of sophomore Melisa Shock (Bellbrook, Ohio/Bellbrook), who allowed two hits and four walks in 5.2 innings. Freshman Meghan O'Neill (Springfield, Ohio/Catholic Central) relieved and worked her way out of a bases loaded situation to secure the win.
After the Tigers banged out a season-high 12 hits in the opener, the victory in the second game was secured with the benefit of just four hits. Wittenberg induced six walks and made the most of a stolen base, a wild pitch, a passed ball and an error to manufacture the seven runs.
In addition to Boswell's multi-hit game, senior shortstop Sarah Fetters (Woodhaven, Mich./Maumee (Ohio)) and junior first baseman Julie Ziegler (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins) both added two hits to the attack, while sophomore third baseman Jade Chivington (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) added a pair of runs scored.