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WOOSTER, Ohio — For just the second time in a rollercoaster 2011 season the Wittenberg Tigers swept a doubleheader. It couldn't have come at a better time as the Tigers evened their North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) record at 5-5 with a pair of wins over Wooster.
Overall, Wittenberg improved to 11-18, compared to 11-19 for the Scots, who are now 3-7 in the conference. The two teams started the day tied at 3-5 in the NCAC standings and in dire need of momentum heading into the final four games of the conference regular season.
In the opener, the Tigers rode the strong right arm of freshman Rachel Ross (Westerville, Ohio/South) to a 6-3 win. She allowed just six hits and a walk en route to the complete-game victory. She even helped the offense out with an RBI sacrifice bunt in the third inning and an RBI single in the fifth.
The latter hit was part of a four-run outburst that proved crucial when the Scots struck back for two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 6-3. Ross allowed just one baserunner in the last two innings to secure the win.
In the nightcap, freshman Caitlin Gowins (Coshocton, Ohio/River View) picked up the complete-game win, scattering eight hits and two walks while allowing just three earned runs — all in the first three innings. The Tigers responded with four runs in the same time frame and then added single markers in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to back Gowins, who allowed just three baserunners over the final four innings.
Freshman Laura Rose (Riverside, Ohio/Stebbins) powered the offense with a three-run homer in the third inning en route to a 2-for-3, two runs scored, four-RBI game. Senior Jessi Allen (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) and juniors Jessica Snyder (Northfield, Ill./New Trier) and Tori Amicon (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) all added three hits.
The Tigers have doubleheaders against Ohio Wesleyan and Oberlin remaining on the schedule. Wittenberg likely needs to win at least three of those four games to reach the four-team NCAC Tournament.