FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Wittenberg softball team split a pair of games on opening day of the 2012 season, shutting out Eastern Nazarene 8-0 before dropping a tight 5-4 contest with Bridgewater State to kick off the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.

The Tigers hit the mercy rule on the button with an 8-0 win over Eastern Nazarene, scoring once in the opening frame and three times in the second before pushing across two in both the fourth and fifth.

Meanwhile, the pitching duo of sophomore Rachel Ross (Westerville, Ohio/South)and senior Anna Kvartunas (Springfield, Va./Paul VI Catholic) combined for a two-hit shutout. Ross started and earned the win in three hitless innings, striking out four and walking just one, while Kvartunas finished the victory off by allowing just two hits over two innings of relief.

Seven Tigers hit safely in the game, led by senior Brooklyn Cox (Dayton, Ohio/Vandalia Butler) who recorded a game-high two RBIs on 1-for-2 hitting. Senior Jessica Snyder (Northfield, Ill./New Trier), sophomore Laura Rose (Riverside, Ohio/Stebbins), freshman Carly Cribbs (Rochester, Mich./Rochester)and sophomore Kaitie Harrison (Springfield, Ohio/Kenton Ridge) each finished with one RBI.

Wittenberg totalled seven hits and one walk against two hits and two walks for Eastern Nazarene, who committed four errors in the game.

A box score was not immediately available for the loss to Bridgewater State, so check back soon for the box and game story!

John Strawn '07