SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The bats awakened in the second game of a key North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) doubleheader against visiting Kenyon College, and the result was a much-needed split for the Wittenberg Tigers.
Following a 1-0 win by Kenyon in the opener and a 9-1 drubbing by Wittenberg in the nightcap, the two teams remain in the thick of the NCAC title chase heading into the final weekend of the regular season. The Ladies are now 15-17 overall but 4-6 in the NCAC, while the Tigers improved to 15-17 overall and 6-4 in the conference.
No rest for the weary, however, as both teams get right back at it. For the Tigers, the drive for the NCAC Tournament continues Thursday at 4 p.m. when Wooster comes calling for a rescheduled doubleheader. Less than 48 hours after that match-up ends, Wittenberg heads to Hiram for yet another pressure-packed conference doubleheader.
The first game Wednesday was a classic pitcher's duel, settled on one of the strangest hits possible. With Kenyon runners on first and second base and two outs in the top of the seventh inning, No. 9 hitter Elizabeth Refsnyder punched a bunt over the head of charging Wittenberg third baseman Jade Chivington (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine). It landed just inside the third base line, just feet behind the base. The runner from second base was running on contact and she scored ahead of an off-line throw from short right field.
The Tigers got runners to second and third base in the bottom of the seventh, but there was no matching two-out magic as Kenyon's Brittany Vanegas picked up the complete-game shutout. The loss wasted a tremendous complete-game performance in the circle by senior Brooke Boswell (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield), who scattered just five hits - all singles - while striking out six.
Wittenberg bounced back in a big way in Game 2. Vanegas and Boswell both started the nightcap as well, but the Tigers delivered a knockout blow with six runs in the third inning and two more in the fourth. Boswell went four innings to get the win, allowing just four hits and one earned run. Senior Meghan O'Neil (Springfield, Ohio/Catholic Central) pitched well in relief, allowing three hits in two innings as the Tigers ended the game in the bottom of the sixth by reaching an eight-run margin.
Three players finished with two hits each in the second game, led by senior Cameron Catalfu (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland), who went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in and a run scored. Sophomore Jessica Snyder (Northfield, Ill./New Trier) added two hits and two runs scored and sophomore Tori Amicon (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Darby) contributed two hits and two RBI.