SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — On a sun-splashed St. Patrick's Day afternoon, the Wittenberg Tigers opened the home portion of the 2012 schedule with a hard-earned split with John Carroll.

The Tigers came from behind in both games of the doubleheader, and in the nightcap freshman pitcher Julia Williams (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) made the rally stand up with an oustanding pitching performance. Wittenberg is now 9-5 on the season after losing Game 1 by a 9-4 score and then evening things up with a 6-3 victory in Game 2.

John Carroll jumped on top in the opener on a second inning grand slam by Mackenzie Griffin, but the Tigers bounced back to tie the game in the bottom of the third. Sophomore Laura Rose (Riverside, Ohio/Stebbins) cleared the bases with a clutch two-out triple to center field and then senior Tori Amicon (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Darby) tied the game with an RBI single to right.

But the Blue Streaks took control of the game in the fifth inning with a pair of unearned runs and three more tallies in the sixth. Sophomore Rachel Ross (Westerville, Ohio/South) was touched for 13 hits and two walks in 5.2 innings before giving way to senior Anna Kvartunas (Springfield, Va./Paul VI Catholic), who tossed a scoreless 1.1 inning.

After falling behind on two John Carroll runs in the first inning of the second game, the Tigers came roaring back with a three-spot in the bottom of the second. After the Blue Streaks tied the game in the fourth, Wittenberg put together a winning three-run rally in the sixth.

Freshman Ashlee Wright (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) drove in what turned out to be the winning run with an RBI double. She then came around to score on a two-run homer from sophomore Kaitie Harrison (Springfield, Ohio/Kenton Ridge), her second two-run shot of the game.

Williams capped her stellar day with a scoreless seventh inning to win for the third time in four decisions. She allowed 10 hits and two walks, but she limited to the damage to just three runs (two earned).