SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers kicked off the home portion of the 2014 schedule with a doubleheader split with Thomas More by virtue of a 5-4 extra-inning defeat and 6-0 shutout.

The 24th-ranked Tigers emerged from the afternoon with an overall record of 10-2. Thomas More stands 9-4 on the young campaign.

In the first game, Wittenberg got a strong pitching performance from senior Rachel Ross (Westerville, Ohio/South), but a pair of sixth-inning errors forced the Tigers to play from behind. After rallying to tie the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh on a clutch double from sophomore Loren Combs (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin), the Tigers were held scoreless in the eighth and ninth frames as Thomas More pulled it out with a pair of RBI hits in the top of the ninth.

Rosse piled up 138 pitches over the course of nine inning, scatting eight hits and three walks. She allowed five runs (three earned) while striking out four in picking up her first loss of 2014 season against seven wins.

At the plate, Combs and Ross finished with identical stat lines of one run scored, one run batted in and two hits in four plate appearances in the game. Sophomore Shannon Lance (Loveland, Ohio/Kings) added the Tigers' other RBI.

The nightcap was all Tigers, who cruised to a 6-0 win behind the tremendous pitching of freshman Alyssa Durette (Geneva, NY/Geneva). She allowed just five hits - all singles - and three walks in going the distance on an efficient 103 pitches.

Combs continued to swing a sizzling bat, finishing with two hits, two stolen bases and a run scored. Senior Laura Rose (Riverside, Ohio/Stebbins) added two RBIs, and freshman Abby Baker (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) had a fine game, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored.