The Muskingum softball team split against Ohio Athletic Conference opponent Heidelberg on Senior Day at Donna J. Newberry Field on Saturday afternoon. The Student Princes won the opener 6-0, while the Muskies took game two, 2-1.

The Basics 

• Records: Muskingum (21-9 overall, 7-7 OAC), Heidelberg (21-11 overall, 11-5 OAC)
• Location: New Concord, Ohio – Donna J. Newberry Field 

Senior Salute

• Prior to the start of game one, Muskingum recognized this year's senior class: Abigail Orr, Nikki Mantle, Melissa Maiorano, and Haylea Debolt.

Post-Game Notes

• Muskingum is now tied for fifth place in the OAC with Marietta (7-7 record). Both teams have four OAC games left to play. Baldwin Wallace is currently in fourth place with a 9-7 conference record. The top four teams advance to the OAC Tournament, held May 4-6.

Inside the Numbers- Game One:

• Muskingum tallied four hits.
• Senior Abigail Orr, junior Rachel Eberling, sophomore Jennifer Schrader, and freshman Riley Powers each collected a hit.
• Eberling tossed the loss for the Muskies allowing three runs on five hits.
• Heidelberg scored six runs on 11 hits.
• Abbey McKee led the Student Princes at the plate by going 3-for-4.
• Kaitlyn Moore secured the win after pitching a complete game, allowing four hits on no runs.

Inside the Numbers- Game Two:

• Muskingum scored two runs on three hits.
• Freshman Jaelyn Meade went 1-for-2 at the dish, which included a double, a run scored, and an RBI.
• Senior Haylea Debolt and freshman Karsyn Shaffer each had one hit, with Shaffer adding a run scored.
• Sophomore Jolyn Shunk produced an RBI.
• Meade scored the first run of the contest off Shunk's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth inning. Meade opened the inning with a hit-by-pitch.
• With two outs, Shaffer scored the second and final run of the game from a double by Meade. Shaffer reached base with a single up the middle.
• Freshman relief pitcher Gabrielle McNeil gained her second win in the circle after allowing four hits, no runs, and accrued three strikeouts.
• Heidelberg scored one run on four hits.
• Renee Lovett went 3-for-4 at the dish with one run scored for the Student Princes.
• Vanessa Macias took the loss after allowing one run on two hits.

Game Highlights

Heidelberg broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third inning as they scored off a double to center field and blasted a two-run homer to take a 3-0 lead in game one. The Student Princes gathered two runs in the fourth and one in the sixth to secure the OAC victory.

In game two, Heidelberg scored on a wild pitch for an early 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning. After a couple of quiet innings, Muskingum tied the contest in the bottom of the fourth off a sacrifice fly from Shunk to drive in Meade for the run. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Meade hit a powerful double down the right field line to bring Shaffer across the plate to score the second and final run of the game. Muskingum's defense pulled through as Heidelberg went three up, three down, in the top of the seventh to give the Muskies the win.  

Up Next

• Muskingum returns to action on Sunday, April 22 as they welcome Ohio Athletic Conference rival Marietta to the Donna J. Newberry Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.