Hall's Complete Game Shutout Leads to Split with Hiram

Springfield, OH - Wittenberg Softball took on the Hiram Terriers, one of the top teams in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), as the Tigers looked to hold on to the fourth spot in the conference standings as the season begins to wind down. After losing the first game by a score of 5-4, the Tiger pitching and defense played absolutely outstanding in game two to get a 4-0 win and stay at fourth in the conference at 5-5. With the split, the Tigers moved to 23-11 overall, and the Terriers moved to 20-10 (8-2 NCAC).

In game one, Wittenberg was able to take an early 2-0 after the first inning as two runs scored on a Rebekah Giel (Amelia, OH / West Clermont) single. Hiram responded with five unanswered runs in the second and third to take a 5-2 lead. The Tigers answered in the bottom of the fourth with a three-run inning as a run scored on an error, Gada Bryant (Westville, IL / Bismark Henning) drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, and Julia Burch (Dublin, OH / Dublin Jerome) delivered the third run of the inning with an RBI double. The following inning, a Hiram batter was walked with the bases loaded for a run to score before both teams were held scoreless for the remainder of the game to produce the final score of 5-4. Starting in the circle in game one was Samantha Zungri (Canal Winchester, OH / Canal Winchester), who went two and a third innings and allowed five runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two. Lilly Shaw (Washington Court House, OH / Washington) entered in relief, adding another two and a third innings, allowing only one run on one hit. Lilly James (Troy, OH / Troy) threw the last two and a third innings, allowing no runs on only one hit and three walks, while also recording two strikeouts.

Game One Team Leaders

• Burch led in hits with three and Diana Quevedo (La Quinta, CA / La Quinta) had two as each of them also recorded a double on the day.
• Burch, Giel, and Bryant each drove in a run and Meghan McCans (Arcanum, OH / Arcanum) led the team in runs scored with two as she reached base four times on three walks and one hit.
• McCans also stole a total of four bases in the game as Burch added two of her own.

Game One Team Comparison

• Wittenberg had eight hits to six for Hiram and the Tigers only recorded two errors to the Terrier's three errors.
• The Tigers also put up three extra base hits to only one for the Terriers and Wittenberg put up nine stolen bases to only one for Hiram.

Game Two

Julie Hall (Powell, OH / Bishop Watterson) started the game for the Tigers and recorded a complete game shutout as she threw all seven innings, allowing only six hits while walking one and recording two strikeouts. She also had a great defense behind her as McCans threw a runner out at home from center field in the second inning. Later, Hanna Ecker (Heath, OH / Heath) threw out a runner looking to steal second in the third and Bryant made a diving play and threw a runner out at first from her knees in the fifth.

For the Tigers at the plate, Shannon Flaherty (Burlington, KY / Saint Henry District) tripled to lead off the third inning before going home on a single from Bryant, and Burch drove in another two runs on a single up the middle the same inning to go up 3-0. The Tigers then added an insurance run in the sixth as Quevedo drove home a run on a fielder's choice as Giel came all the way around to score from second.

Game One Team Leaders

• Giel led the team in hits with two and Burch led in RBI with her two that came on her single. 
• There was a four-way tie for runs scored with McCans, Giel, Flaherty and Bryant each scored one run each.

Game Two Team Comparison

• Wittenberg led in hits with a count of nine to six, while both teams also logged two extra base hits.
• The Tigers also recorded four stolen bases on the game to none for Hiram and neither team commited an error. 

Quote from Head Coach Ashley Goodwin

"I'm incredibly proud of our team for their resilience against Hiram, a top contender in the conference. While we fell short in the first game, our ability to regroup and fight back was remarkable. Julie Hall's performance in game two, throwing a complete-game gem, was a testament to her dedication and skill. This series has shown us what we're capable of, and I believe it will propel us forward as we continue to strive for excellence."

The Tigers will return to action tomorrow, Sunday, April 27th, as they will take on Oberlin in another conference doubleheader, with game one slated to start at 1:00 p.m.

Written By: Grant Martin