Softball receives votes in NFCA Top 25 poll for the third week in a row

The Muskingum softball team received votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Top 25 poll for the third week in a row. The Muskies received a total of eight points in the poll. 

The Muskies are currently 12-2 and on an eight game win streak after sweeping the Wittenberg University Tigers on Tuesday. As a team, Muskingum is batting .343 and averaging 10 hits, and 6.6 runs per game.

Senior Krissy Hughes is batting .510, with two home runs, seven doubles, 11 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. Last week, Hughes was recognized by the Ohio Athletic Conference as a Player of the Week nominee and by Louisville Slugger/NFCA as a Division III National Player of the Week nominee. 

Freshman Haley Hawk guides the Muskies batting .471, with a team-high 14 RBIs off of 16 hits. Sophomore Jaelyn Meade is batting .439 with a team-best four home runs, while sophomore Karsyn Shaffer is hitting .396 with 11 RBIs and six stolen bases. Sophomore Riley Powers is hitting .341 with 13 RBIs and five doubles.

The Muskie pitching staff sports a 2.50 ERA and is holding hitters to a .245 batting average. Senior Rachel Eberling leads the staff with a record of 6-1 and a 2.58 ERA. She is also batting .319 with two homeruns and nine RBIs. Freshman Hannah Smith carries a 3-0 mark, and sophomore Hannah Duff has a 1.50 ERA with a team-best 27 strikeouts. 

The Muskies received a total of eight votes in the poll, while No. 25 Salisbury tallied nine votes. 

Muskingum next hosts Ohio Wesleyan on Wednesday, March 20 for their home opener. Game one of the scheduled doubleheader is slated for 3:30 p.m.