Clermont, FL – The offense heated up for the Wittenberg University softball team on day two of action from a sunny but cool Florida day. The Tigers picked up two wins on the day, taking down the Bulldogs of Adrian College 4-2 in game one, before moving on to defeat Penn State Brandywine in a hard-fought battle 8-5. Wittenberg tallied 24 hits on the day, collecting 10 in game one and 14 in the final game of the afternoon. Elise Freeland did a job in the leadoff spot for the Red and White, finishing the day 6 for 8 with five runs scored and one RBI.

Game One Breakdown

The Tigers were the first to strike, as Megan Niswonger connected on a single to right field to bring home Freeland for the first Wittenberg run of the day. After Adrian matched the Wittenberg run in the bottom half of the first, the Tigers regained the lead on the Abby Curnutte RBI bunt single to score Freeland. Adrian would bring things back to even in the bottom half of the third, scoring their final run of the afternoon against the Tigers. Olivia Hopkins put the Tigers back on top with an RBI single to right field, bringing home Alex Gibson in the top of the fourth. Lauren Buelow pushed the Tiger advantage out to 4-2, bringing home Aubrie Stillings on a sharply hit ball back up the middle for the final Wittenberg run of game one.

Mary Britton took the circle to start game one, tossing seven innings of three-hit ball and striking out one.

Game Two Breakdown

Wittenberg kept the bats alive heading into the second game of the day against PSU-Brandywine, as 5 of the 14 Tiger hits went for extra bases. After Brandywine opened the scoring with a run in the top half of the first inning, the Tigers tallied four runs in the bottom of the inning. Clara Andersen brought in the first Wittenberg run of the game, scoring Freeland on a sacrifice fly to right field. Niswonger added to the Tiger lead with a single through the left side, bringing home Curnutte. A two-run double by Gibson to right brought home Buelow and Niswonger would cap off the Tiger scoring in the bottom half of the first inning. Wittenberg continued to add to their lead in the bottom of the second inning, as Freeland smacked a double to left center, scoring Missy Lee. Brianna Gibson brought home the sixth Tiger run of the game, scoring Freeland on the sacrifice fly to left. After PSU-Brandywine added four runs in the fourth inning cutting into the Tiger advantage, Wittenberg was still able to maintain a 6-5 lead. A second Niswonger RBI single to right field pushed the Wittenberg lead out to 7-5, scoring Curnutte in the fifth inning. Brianna Gibson logged her second sacrifice fly of the game to push the Wittenberg advantage out to 8-5 in the bottom half of the sixth inning.

Katelyn Niswonger toed the rubber to start game two, picking up her first win of the season, while tossing four innings of nine-hit ball with two strikeouts. Britton closed out the game, picking up the save, with an inning and a third of work and no hits allowed.

UP NEXT

The Tigers return to action on Thursday, Mar. 7 at 9:00 AM taking on Defiance College and Moravian at 11:15 AM.