The Muskingum softball team split a road doubleheader with Wittenberg on Wednesday evening at Betty Doughman Dillhunt Field. The Muskies secured game one 8-1, before falling to the Tigers 1-0 in the nightcap.

The Basics 

Records: Muskingum (12-4 Overall), Wittenberg (3-16 Overall) 

Location: Betty Doughman Field – Springfield, Ohio 

 The Difference – Game 1 

• Muskingum strung together five hits in the first inning to jump ahead, 3-0. Sarah Piteo got the rally going with a two-run RBI single, while Taylor Gallentine hit a two-out single to left field to add one more run to extend the Muskie lead.
• Muskingum struck again, this time in the fourth. Sarah Piteo drew a bases loaded walk and then a sacrifice fly from Taylor Stemmerding made it, 5-0 Muskingum.
• With two outs, Wittenberg plated their only run of the game in the fifth off a ground out to second base.
• The Muskie bats continued to heat up as Taylor Gallentine smacked an RBI double to right field and a two-out RBI single to left field from Kalie Eshelman saw the Muskies stretch out their lead, 7-1.
• An RBI triple to center field from Cara Taylor claimed to be the final run of the contest, as the Muskies captured an, 8-1 victory.

Inside the Numbers – Game 1 

• Muskingum plated eight runs off 15 hits.
• Senior Hannah Smith got the start in the circle for the Muskies and gave up one run on two hits and struck out seven in 5.0 innings of action.  
• Freshman Daytayviah Rodgers would come in to pitch the final 2.0 innings in relief allowing no runs and fired four strikeouts.
• Muskingum was led by Junior Kalie Eshelman who went 3-for-5 at the plate, tallied three RBIs and one run scored.
• Senior Taylor Gallentine also finished with three hits, two RBIs, and one run scored.
• Senior Sarah Piteo chipped in one hit, one run scored, and three RBIs, while freshman Taylor Stemmerding added a hit and an RBI.
• Senior Claire Guilliams and freshman Cara Taylor both notched two hits in the contest. Guilliams finished with three runs scored, while Taylor added one run scored and an RBI.
• Senior Haley Hawk, senior Carlee Lamacz, and freshman Kaitlyn Bibb each added a hit to pace the Muskingum offense.
• Wittenberg was led by Julia Burch and Lily James who each registered one hit. 
• Lily James took the loss in the circle for the Tigers after allowing five runs off eight hits.

The Difference – Game 2 

• After five scoreless innings, Wittenberg scored the game's lone run off a sacrifice to right field.

Inside the Numbers – Game 2 

• Muskingum scored no runs off six hits. The Muskies left four runners on base.
• Junior Madelyn Thomas got the start in game two for Muskingum and gave up one run off five hits and notched six strikeouts in 6.0 innings of action. 
• Taylor Stemmerding led the Muskingum offense going 2-for-3 at the plate.
• Kalie Eshelman, Cara Taylor, Carlee Lamacz, and Kaitlyn Bibb added one hit apiece. 
• Julia Burch, Lily James, Samanatha Zungri, Harper Crews, and Hannah Weymouth each added a hit to lead the Wittenberg offense.
• Kira van Ravensberg earned the win in the circle for the Tigers after allowing no runs off six hits and fired two strikeouts in 7.0 innings of action.

Up Next 

• Muskingum opens up OAC action on Saturday, March 29, when they host John Carroll. First-pitch of game one is slated for a 1PM start at Donna J. Newberry Field.