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GAMBIER, Ohio — The Wittenberg Tigers needed a doubleheader sweep. But rather than dwell on the heartbreak of an opening extra-inning loss to the host Ladies, the Tigers bounced back to earn a split and keep their postseason hopes alive.
Wittenberg heads into the final week of regular season action with a record of 9-18 overall, but more importantly the Tigers stand 3-5 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). Kenyon is now 7-18 overall but 3-3 in the NCAC.
In the opener, the Tigers staked freshman pitcher Rachel Ross (Westerville, Ohio/South) to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Kenyon rallied to even the score in the bottom of the fifth. Seven innings weren't enough for the two teams to settle things, and even an eighth inning proved fruitless in reaching a decision as Ross wiggled out of a bases-loaded, no-out situation. She wasn't so fortunate in the ninth, however, as Kenyon pushed across the game-winner with a two-out single.
Offensively, Wittenberg picked up two hits each from freshmen Kaitie Harrison (Springfield, Ohio/Kenton Ridge) and Shelby Ross (Springfield, Ohio/Kenton Ridge). Junior Tori Amicon (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Darby) drove in the Tigers' lone run.
Wittenberg scored first in the nightcap as well, but this time the offense kept coming. By the fifth inning, the Tigers held an 8-0 lead and the Ladies needed a three-run rally in the bottom of the frame just to extend the game to its anticipated seven-inning conclusion.
The Tigers' 14-hit attack was spearheaded by freshman Laura Rose (Riverside, Ohio/Stebbins), who collected three hits, two runs scored and two runs batted in. Harrison added two hits and two RBIs and junior Brooklyn Cox (Dayton, Ohio/Vandalia Butler) chipped in with three hits in four plate appearances.
The offensive outburst made a winner out of freshman Caitlin Gowins (Coshocton, Ohio/River View), who went the distance while scattering eight hits and two walks.