SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — With the 12-2 Heidelberg softball squad coming to town, the Wittenberg Tigers knew they would be challenged. The challenge came and the Tigers stood tall with a doubleheader split Tuesday afternoon. A 5-4 win in Game 1 gave way to a 9-2 loss in the nightcap, and the Tigers moved to a 4-6 overall record following their first home action of the season.
After a rain-shortened 3-5 start to the 2010 campaign in the Rebel Spring Games, the Tigers got started on the main portion of the schedule against Heidelberg at Betty Dillahunt Field with their 5-4 victory in Game 1. Senior pitcher Brooke Boswell (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield) went pitch-for-pitch with Heidelberg starter Dana Thoms, as each had two one-run innings and one two-run inning heading into the seventh frame. While Heidelberg failed to break a 4-4 stalemate, Boswell's teammates made her solid outing stand up with a run in the bottom of the inning for the walk-off win.
After a leadoff double from senior outfielder Cameron Catalfu (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland), senior third baseman Jade Chivington (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) laid down a one-out bunt and the ensuing throw to first sailed left of the bag allowing Catalfu to score, giving the Tigers the go-ahead, game-winning run.
Boswell finished the game having allowed nine hits to score four runs, all earned, on one walk and an impressive nine strikeouts. Catalfu was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Chivington went 2-for-3 with one run scored and an RBI. Other Tigers to collect basehits were junior Jessi Allen (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley), sophomore Tori Amicon (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Darby) and sophomore Jessica Snyder (Northfield, Ill./New Trier), who notched an RBI.
In Game 2, the offense could not find its stride and the Heidelberg lineup got to Tiger starter Melisa Shock (Bellbrook, Ohio/Bellbrook) and the Wittenberg defense early. Shock gave up only one earned run in her three innings but five overall on five hits before senior Megan O'Neill (Springfield, Ohio/Catholic Central) took over in the circle in the top of the fourth. O'Neill threw 3-1/3 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits. Freshman Kelby Kittles (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee) picked up the final two outs in the top of the seventh, allowing one run to score, unearned, on two hits.
From the plate, senior catcher Emily Rudman (West Lafayette, Ind./West Lafayette) was 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Allen picked up an RBI. Chivington, Amicon, and freshman Brooklyn Cox (Dayton, Ohio/Vandalia Butler) each tallied a hit in the game.
Wittenberg resets for another midweek doubleheader on Thursday, March 25, beginning at 3:30 p.m. versus Transylvania in Lexington, Ky.
Written by: John Strawn '07