HIRAM, Ohio — Already assured of a spot in the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, the Wittenberg softball team played Hiram College on the road Saturday in a doubleheader with large implications for their regular season place. The Tigers dropped both ends by scores of 6-2 and 4-0, falling to 8-6 in the NCAC and 17-19 overall.
In a tight conference race, the Tigers' final ranking depended on the results of the Hiram games. With two losses, the Tigers fell to fourth to finish the regular season, whereas a split would have earned third, and a sweep would have secured a share of the title in a three-way tie with Denison and Ohio Wesleyan. Hiram finishes third at 9-5, while the Bishops and Big Red share first-place at 10-4.
In the 6-2 loss in Game 1, four defensive errors provided Hiram with all six of their runs. The Tigers countered with a run in the second inning and one in the sixth, but fell short of full retaliation.
Senior starting pitcher Brooke Boswell (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield) was tagged for four runs, all unearned, though she posted a strong outing scattering five hits over five innings. Senior Meghan O'Neill (Springfield, Ohio/Catholic Central) allowed two runs, both unearned, on two hits in one inning of relief.
Junior Jessi Allen (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) led the offense with a 2-for-4 game and an RBI. Sophomore Tori Amicon (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Darby) drove in the other run on 1-for-3 hitting, and senior Cameron Catalfu (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) and Boswell each went 1-for-3 in the game.
In Game 2, freshman Kelby Kittles (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee) allowed just two runs on five hits in a starting appearance in the circle, and senior Melisa Shock (Bellbrook, Ohio/Bellbrook) threw two innings of relief and allowed two runs on three hits. The Tigers made just one error but the Terrier's pitching staff limited Wittenberg to six hits. Catalfu led the lineup with two hits in three at bats, and four other players each had one hit apiece.
The North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament kicks off on Friday, May 7, hosted by Denison University in Granville, Ohio. The Tigers face No. 1-seed Denison in the second game of the tournament, scheduled for Noon on Friday.