Softball hosts Ohio Northern in DH that will decide OAC Regular Season Champion

The Muskingum softball team hosts Ohio Northern on Saturday, April 27, for a doubleheader on Senior Day that will decide the Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season Champion. First pitch of the twinbill is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Donna J. Newberry Field. Fans can follow all the action live through video, audio and live stats at fightingmuskies.com. 

 

The Muskies trail first place Ohio Northern (14-2) by one game. A sweep by Muskingum on Saturday against the Polar Bears will secure the OAC Regular Season Title and give the Muskies the top-seed and hosting rights in the OAC Tournament scheduled for May 3-5. If Muskies were to split or be swept then Ohio Northern will lock in the OAC Regular Season Title and host the OAC Tournament. 

 

 

The Muskingum softball team is currently 29-9 overall with a 13-3 slate in the OAC. As a team, Muskingum is batting .354, averaging 7.3 runs per game and sporting a 3.42 ERA.

 

Senior Krissy Hughes leads the Muskie offensive onslaught with a conference-high .466 batting average. Hughes has 62 hits, 21 doubles, three triples, four home runs, and a team-high 32 stolen bases. This season, Hughes was named the OAC Softball Hitter of the Week (twice) and the Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week. Hughes has also rewritten the Muskingum softball record book numerous times this year. Hughes broke the record for doubles in a season (21), stolen bases in a season (32), stolen bases in a career (76), and is currently tied for the school mark for runs scored in a season with 53.

 

Freshman Haley Hawk is batting a scorching .448 with 11 doubles, five home runs, and is currently first in the OAC with 40 RBIs. Sophomore Karsyn Shaffer is batting .379 with 44 hits, four doubles, 22 RBIs, and ranked second in the OAC with 14 stolen bases. Sophomore Jaelyn Meade is batting .372 with two doubles, five triples, 37 RBIs, and is currently second in the OAC with eight home runs. Sophomore Riley Powers is batting .350 with 31 hits, eight doubles, one home run, and 26 RBIs. 

 

The Muskie pitching staff is paced by senior Rachel Eberling, freshman Hannah Smith, and sophomore Hannah Duff. Eberling has pitched a team-high 92.2 innings and carries an overall mark of 11-3. She has recorded 46 strikeouts en route to posting a 2.87 ERA. Eberling is also batting .339 and has a team-best nine home runs. Smith sports an 11-2 overall record and has a 3.97 ERA, while holding batters to a .266 batting average. Duff has a 7-4 mark with three complete games in 77.2 innings of work. Duff has a team-best 2.53 ERA and has notched one save.

 

 

Ohio Northern is currently 21-11 overall and 14-2 in the OAC after sweeping Marietta last Wednesday. As a team, the Polar Bears are batting .358, scoring 6.4 runs per game and carrying a 3.85 ERA.

 

Senior Hailee Loughman leads Ohio Northern batting .449 with a team-best 44 hits, 12 doubles, three home runs, and 30 RBIs. Junior Gabby Stewart is batting .431 with 44 hits, eight doubles, three home runs, and 32 RBIs. This season, Stewart was named the OAC Softball Hitter of the Week for the third time in her career. Freshman Rachel Hish is hitting .398 with seven RBIs off of 35 hits, while junior Brady Guest is hitting .389 with a team-high four home runs. 

 

The Polar Bear pitching staff is led by senior Kaitlin Surdej who has an overall record of 13-5 with four saves. She has fired 130.1 innings and ranks third in the OAC with a 2.42 ERA. Freshman Maddie Anderson has tossed a total of 47 innings, registered three complete games, and logged 28 strikeouts. Anderson has an ERA of 3.42.