Softball powers past Mount Union as Coach Winters claims 200th career win
The 25th-ranked Muskingum softball team powered past Mount Union on Tuesday afternoon. The Muskies won the opener 11-3 in five innings and secured the nightcap, 18-4 in five innings. The doubleheader sweep gave Head Coach Kari Winters her 200th career win.
April 2, 2019
The 25th-ranked Muskingum softball team powered past Mount Union on Tuesday afternoon. The Muskies won the opener 11-3 in five innings and secured the nightcap, 18-4 in five innings. The doubleheader sweep gave Head Coach Kari Winters her 200th career win.
THE BASICS
- Records: Muskingum (20-4 overall, 4-0 OAC), Mount Union (12-10 overall, 0-4 OAC)
- Location: New Concord, Ohio – Donna J. Newberry
- Weather: Chilly, 48 Degrees
NOTABLES
- Head Coach Kari Winters registered her 200th career win in just her ninth year at the helm of the program. This season, Coach Winters has guided Muskingum into the national spotlight with an impressive 20-4 overall record and a 4-0 mark in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
GAME ONE
In the first inning, senior Krissy Hughes scored on a fielding error by the shortstop. Freshman Haley Hawk then notched an RBI-single to right field to give the Muskies an early 2-0 lead. Senior Rachel Eberling led the charge with a two-run double to left field to expand the lead 4-0. Junior Kasey Rininger secured an RBI-double to left field to widen the gap 5-0.
Mount Union retaliated with three runs on three hits in the top of the second inning to trim the deficit 5-3. Sophomore Bailey Waitkus reached on a fielders choice, to score sophomore Jaelyn Meade and give the Muskies a three-run edge (6-3) on the Purple Raiders. Eberling then blasted a three-run home run to give the Muskies a 9-3 advantage going into the third inning.
Muskingum scored two runs on three hits in the bottom of the third inning to lock in the 11-3 victory over the Purple Raiders.
Eberling went 2-for-3 at the plate and guided the Muskies with five RBIs, one double, and blasted one home run. Waitkus tallied two RBIs, while sophomore Karsyn Shaffer, Rininger, and freshman Haley Hawk each chipped in one RBI.
Freshman Hannah Smith pitched a complete game six-hitter, with two strikeouts. Smith earned her eighth victory of the season.
Morgan Riley directed the Purple Raiders with two RBIs and one double. Alexandra Pasco took the loss for Mount Union after tossing four innings, allowing 11 runs off of nine hits.
GAME TWO
In the first inning, Meade doubled to left center, to score Shaffer and put the Muskies on the board. Meade then scored on a error by the shortstop to give the Muskies an early 2-0 edge on the Purple Raiders. Waitkus fired up the Muskies with a two-run single to right field to expand the gap 4-0. Sophomore Shaena Mayer reached first base on an error by the pitcher, to send Waitkus home. Senior Krissy Hughes rounded out the scoring for the Muskies with a three-run home run to give Muskingum an eight-run cushion (8-0).
Anna Saxton blasted a three-run home run in the top of the second inning to trim the deficit 8-3. Powers answered with a two-run home run to left center in the bottom of the second inning to expand the lead 10-3.
Mount Union scored one run in the third inning in an attempt to close the gap, but the Muskies were able to fend them off. In the bottom of the third inning, Eberling blasted a two-run home run and Meade cranked a three-run home run en route to the dominating 18-4 victory over Mount Union.
Hughes went 3-for-4 at the plate and led the Muskies with five RBIs, one home run, and one double. Meade generated four RBIs off of two hits, tallied one double, and blasted one home run. Eberling notched three RBIs and dished out one home run. Powers and Waitkus chipped in two RBIs. Powers also locked in one home run.
Sophomore Hannah Duff secured her fifth win in the circle for the Muskies. Duff pitched four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits.
Anna Saxton guided the Purple Raiders with three RBIs and one home run. Ashley Casicio took the loss for Mount Union after tossing one inning, allowing eight runs on five hits.
UP NEXT
The Muskies next travel to Westerville, Ohio to battle the Otterbein Cardinals on Wednesday, April 3. Game one of the doubleheader is slated for 3:00 p.m.