The 24th-ranked Muskingum softball team defeated Ohio Wesleyan in their home opener on Wednesday afternoon. The Muskies won game one 3-1 and claimed the night cap, 4-0. 

The Basics

• Records: Muskingum (8-2), Ohio Wesleyan (1-9)
• Location: Donna J. Newberry Field – New Concord, Ohio

Inside the Numbers – Game 1

• Muskingum finished with three runs on five hits.
• Senior Hannah Smith collected the win on the mound pitching a complete game and allowing one run off three hits. Smith also registered six strikeouts. 
• Junior Sarah Piteo, junior Mickayla Malone, and sophomore Kalie Eshelman all contributed one hit and one RBI to pace the Muskie offense.
• Senior Cristianna Boggs and junior Claire Warschauer ended the outing with one hit apiece. 
• Sophia Cegledy added a hit and RBI for the Ohio Wesleyan offense. 
• Katie Chittum dealt the loss for the Battling Bishops, pitching a complete game and allowing three runs on five hits. 

The Difference – Game 1

• The Muskies plated all three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull away from the Battling Bishops. 
• After a pitching duel in four innings of play, Muskingum plated the first run of the contest off a Piteo double to centerfield.
• A sacrifice bunt from Eshelman would plate another run, as the Muskies jumped out to a, 2-0 lead.
• The final run from the inning came off a Mickalya Malone triple to give the Muskies a comfortable, 3-0 lead.
• Ohio Wesleyan plated their only run of the contest off a Cegledy single to right field.

Inside the Numbers – Game 2

• The Muskies finished the outing scoring four runs on six hits.
• Sophomore Madelyn Thomas earned her fourth win of the season firing six shutout innings only allowing four hits. Thomas finished with three strikeouts.
• Freshman Alyssa Marlatt relieved Thomas in the seventh, registering one strikeout. 
• Senior Haley Hawk led the Muskies at the plate with two hits including a double and collected three RBIs.
• Junior Sarah Piteo added a hit and RBI to round out the Muskie scoring effort. 
• Sara Bias led the Battling Bishops with two hits.
• Katie Chittum dealt the loss for the Battling Bishops, allowing two runs on two hits. 

The Difference – Game 2

• The Muskies jumped out to an early 1-0 lead off a Piteo sacrifice bunt.
• A Hawk three-RBI double to left field in the bottom of the fifth gave Muskingum a 4-0 lead.
• Ohio Wesleyan stranded five runners on base but were unable to plate any of them.

Up Next

Muskingum next travels to Lexington, Kentucky to compete at the Pioneer Classic on March 19-20. The Muskies will face Illinois Wesleyan at 12:30 PM, and Hanover at 3:00 PM.