Tiger Softball Drops Regional Game to Alma; Finishes Historic Season at 32-9-1

ALMA, Michigan- Wittenberg Tiger softball continued NCAA Division III Regional play on Saturday, against the host of the tournament, the Alma College Scots. On a cold and rainy day, the Tigers game was pushed back multiple times, but the weather broke for the team to get things going at 3:30PM. The Tigers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but late inning heroics from Alma's offense put the host past the Tigers 9-2 when the final pitch was thrown. The Tigers finish 2016 as NCAC champions at 32-9-1 overall, clinching the tournament title for the first time since 2003. Also, the 2016 class of seniors leaves Wittenberg as the winningest class in program history, while Coach Matthews and company claimed the newcomer of the year award in the NCAC for the fourth straight year.

GAME NOTES

• Chelsea Zang (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) scattered five hits and four unearned runs in six innings of work on Saturday, as the sophomore hurler finishes 2016 with an 18-7 mark.
• Eight different Tigers recorded hits in the loss, as Loren Combs (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin), Shannon Lance (Loveland, Ohio/Kings) and Katy Baumgartner (Fishers, Indiana/Cathedral) each had two hits for the Tigers.
• Baumgartner swiped two bags for the Tigers, while Combs stole one, her 29^th of the season and her 99^th of her career.
• Wittenberg produced 11 hits in the game while striking out 11 times and walking none.

SEASON NOTES

• Baumgartner finishes her freshman campaign leading the Tigers in batting average at a stellar .429 clip.
• Combs led the way for the Tigers recording a team-high 51 hits in 2016, while the senior shortstop finishes her Wittenberg career with 143 hits.
• Wittenberg finishes 2016 at a 32-9-1 mark overall, while Coach Matthews currently sits at 99 career wins at Wittenberg.