The Muskingum softball team remain red hot after defeating non-conference opponent Thomas More by the final scores of 6-5 and 7-2 in their home opener at the Donna J. Newberry Field on a chilly Sunday afternoon. The Muskies improve to 15-1 overall on the season.

The Basics 

• Records: Muskingum (15-1 overall), Thomas More (7-9 overall)
• Location: New Concord, Ohio – Donna J. Newberry Field 

Inside the Numbers- Game One:

• Muskingum scored six runs on 13 hits.
• Junior Krissy Hughes continued to impress at the plate as she went 4-for-4, which included a triple, one run scored, and team-high three RBIs.
• Junior Rachel Eberling went 2-for-4 at the dish, which included two doubles and an RBI.
• Senior Abigail Orr and Freshman Jaelyn Meade went 2-for-3 at the plate with one run scored each. Meade also collected one RBI.
• Eberling pitched a complete game to record her sixth victory in the circle and registered five strikeouts.

Inside the Numbers- Game Two:

• Muskingum scored seven runs on 10 hits
• Hughes led the Muskies by going 3-for-4 at the plate, which included a double, two RBIs, and a run scored.
• Eberling went 2-for-4 at the dish with one run scored and one RBI.
• Meade tallied her first career two-run homer.
• Senior's Haylea Debolt and Melissa Maiorano also added one RBI each.
• In the circle, freshman pitcher Hannah Duff grabbed her eighth win, allowed two runs on eight hits and two walks.

Game Highlights

An RBI double by Eberling gave the Muskies the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. A triple to right center by Hughes allowed Abigail Orr, Nikki Mantle, and Meade to score, making it a 4-0 game in the bottom of the second. Two runs by the Saints in the top of the third and one run in the top of the fifth cut the Muskies' lead down to 4-3. An RBI single by Jennifer Schrader in the bottom of the fifth brought in Debolt to push the advantage 5-3. Thomas More did not back down as they gathered two runs in the top of the seventh to tie the contest at 5-5. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the Muskies prevailed as Meade notched the walk-off single to help Muskingum edge Thomas More in game one.

In game two, Muskingum took a quick lead over the Saints by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Thomas More then collected a run in the top of the second off a sacrifice fly to jump on the board. In the bottom of the second, Hughes singled up the middle to bring in Schrader across the plate to increase the lead, 4-1. Thomas More gathered its final run in the top of the fifth off an RBI single, while the Muskies posted three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to seal the victory.

Up Next

• Muskingum continues home play as they welcome Denison for a doubleheader at the Donna J. Newberry Field on Monday, March 26. Game one is slated to start at 3:30 p.m.