Clermont, FL – The Wittenberg softball team dropped two games on the day, falling to the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen 5-2 in game one and dropping game two to Emmanuel College 6-3. The Tigers tallied 12 hits on the afternoon, with Brianna Gibson going 2 for 2 in game one with an RBI against Lebanon Valley, and Olivia Hopkins going 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored in game two.

Game One Breakdown

Wittenberg took the early lead against Lebanon Valley when Clara Andersen brought in Elise Freeland on a groundout to the right side. The Red and White maintained their one-run lead until the bottom of the fourth inning when the Dutchmen posted three runs. The Tigers responded with a run of their own in the top of the fifth inning, on a Gibson single down the left field line and scoring Missy Lee.  With two more runs coming across in the bottom half of the fifth for Lebanon Valley, the Dutchmen pushed the game out of reach with the 5-2 advantage.

Katelyn Niswonger took the circle to start the game for the Red and White, allowing three hits and striking out four in three-plus innings of work. Mary Britton closed out the game by striking out one with two hits allowed.

Game Two Breakdown

The Tigers were faced with a battle in the second game of the day, as Emmanuel always seemed to have an answer for every Wittenberg score. Wittenberg opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning when Megan Niswonger drove in Lauren Buelow. Emmanuel responded with six straight runs through the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Wittenberg cut into the Emmanuel lead, posting two runs in their final at-bat of the game. Hopkins put the second Tiger run on the board with an RBI double to right center, bringing home Freeland. Victoria Toetz pushed across the final Wittenberg run with a single to right-center to bring home Hopkins.