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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Wittenberg softball team played its first games of the 2011 campaign on home turf, splitting a doubleheader with visiting NAIA Division II Malone. Wittenberg moved to 3-10 on the season, while Malone went to 5-8.
The Tigers dropped the early game 10-6 but did put together two three-run innings, including the last turn at bat when freshman Laura Rose (Riverside, Ohio/Stebbins) launched a three-RBI triple into right field, the first three-bagger of the season for Wittenberg.
Rose finished the game 2-for-2 with three RBIs, two walks, two stolen bases, one run and even added an outfield assist for good measure. Junior Jessica Snyder (Northfield, Ill./New Trier) drove two runs across on a double in the third inning and finished 2-for-4, just after freshman Caitlin Gowins (Coshocton, Ohio/River View) opened the Tigers' scoring with an RBI single, part of a 1-for-3 day at the plate.
Gowins took over in the circle and the lineup for junior Anna Kvartunas (Springfield, Va./Paul VI Catholic), who gave up six runs on five hits and two strikeouts in her 2-1/3 inning start. Gowins went 4-2/3 innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits and one walk.
In the late game, the Tigers turned things around, starting things in a hurry with runs in each of the first three innings, starting with one in the first, three in the second and a five-run outburst in the third.
Wittenberg notched their first two home runs of the season with a pair of two-run blasts over the center field wall by freshman Kaitie Harrison (Springfield, Ohio/Kenton Ridge) in the second frame and freshman Rachel Ross (Westerville, Ohio/South), who also authored the win in the circle, in the third.
Ross finished her day at the plate 1-for-2 with two walks, two RBIs and two runs scored, while Harrison was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run. Junior Tori Amicon (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Darby) also drove in two runs on 1-for-4 hitting, belting a two-run single to center field in the third.
Snyder, Rose and junior Brooklyn Cox (Dayton, Ohio/Vandalia Butler) all pushed one run across with one hit apiece, while senior Jessi Allen (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) led the lineup with 3-for-4 hitting and two runs scored.
The Tigers did it all on 12 hits while holding Malone to four in Ross' complete game victory. She allowed only two earned runs and two walks while striking out two.
The Tigers have a nine-day layoff before hosting Case Western Reserve University in a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Sunday, March 27 at Betty Doughman Dillahunt Field.
John Strawn '07