Softball sets sites on OAC Tournament title

The Muskingum softball team has its eyes set on another Ohio Athletic Championship run as the #2 Muskies open the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament against #3 Mount Union, on Friday, May 6, at 10:00 a.m. The tournament will be hosted by #1 Ohio Northern in Ada, Ohio.

The Basics

OAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

The format is double elimination, with the champion receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. 

Day One – Friday, May 6

• Game 1 - #3 Mount Union (11-6-1) vs. #2 Muskingum (14-4), 10:00 a.m.
• Game 2 - #4 Otterbein (10-8) vs. #1 Ohio Northern (16-2), Noon
• Game 3 - Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, 2:00 p.m
• Game 4 - Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser, 4:00 p.m.

Day Two – Saturday, May 7

• Game 5 - Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Winner, 11:00 a.m.
• Game 6 - Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner, 1:00 p.m.

Day Three – Sunday, May 8

• Game 7 - If Necessary, Noon

The Coach

• The Muskies are led by two-time OAC Coach of the Year Kari Winters, who is entering her final Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament. Winters was named Muskingum's Director of Athletics on March 24. Winters has 275 career wins, with 126 coming in the OAC. Under Winters, the Muskies won the Ohio Athletic Conference regular-season championship in 2019, earning hosting rights for the OAC Tournament. In 2014, Winters led Muskingum to an OAC Tournament championship, granting the team an automatic bid into the NCAA Regional. 

#2 Muskingum (Roster | Schedule | Statistics)

The Muskies are currently 30-10 overall with a 14-4 record in the OAC. Muskingum went 5-1 this season against Ohio Northern, Mount Union, and Otterbein. As a team, Muskingum is batting .317, with a 2.59 ERA and a .960 fielding percentage. The Muskies average 8.6 hits and 5.5 runs per game.

At the Plate

Senior Haley Hawk is batting a team-best .408 with two home runs, 11 doubles, 29 RBIs, and a team-best 51 hits.

Senior Katie Osburn is batting .380 with 29 RBIs off 49 hits and has 11 doubles. Junior Sarah Piteo is batting .362 with a team-high three home runs, 29 RBIs, and eight doubles, while junior Taylor Gallentine is hitting .355 with four doubles and 12 RBIs.

In the Circle

The Muskie pitching staff is led by the trio of senior Hannah Smith, sophomore Madelyn Thomas, and freshman Alyssa Marlatt. Smith has an overall record of 15-5 with a 2.66 ERA and a team-best 106 strikeouts. Thomas, an OAC Pitcher of the Week honoree, is 12-3 overall with a team-best 2.11 ERA. Marlatt holds a 3-2 mark with a 2.92 ERA. Overall, the staff is holding hitters to a .246 batting average.

The Opponents

#1 Ohio Northern (Roster | Schedule | Statistics)

The Polar Bears are currently 21-9 overall with a 16-2 mark in the OAC. As a team, Ohio Northern is batting .280, with a 2.24 ERA and a .957 fielding percentage. The Polar Bears average 7.8 hits and 4.8 runs per game.

At the Plate

Sophomore Kaylee Griffin is batting a team-best .404 with seven doubles, 36 hits, six home runs, and 23 RBIs. Senior Rachel Hish is batting .326 with five RBIs off 28 hits and leads the Ohio Northern baserunners with 10 stolen bases.

In the Circle

The Polar Bear pitching staff is led by freshman Ashley Lenser and junior Allie Bican. Lenser has an overall record of 10-2 with a team-best 1.49 ERA and 65 strikeouts. Bican holds a 5-1 mark with a 1.95 ERA. Overall, the staff is holding hitters to a .216 batting average.

#3 Mount Union (Roster | Schedule | Statistics)

The Purple Raiders are currently 21-16-1 overall with an 11-6-1 mark in the OAC. As a team, Mount Union is batting .290, with a 2.72 ERA and a .953 fielding percentage. The Purple Raiders average 7.8 hits, and 5.6 runs per game.

At the Plate

Senior Grace Heath is batting a team-best .452 with 56 hits, 10 triples, nine doubles, three home runs, 22 RBIs, and 38 stolen bases. Senior Payton Guspyt is batting .352 with 21 RBIs off 38 hits, a team-high 12 doubles, and two triples.

In the Circle

The Purple Raider pitching staff is led by senior Alyssa Rose and senior Peyton Morrison. Rose has an overall record of 9-2 with a 2.28 ERA, and a team-high 80 strikeouts. Rose is also a threat at the plate with a team-best 37 RBIs and eight home runs. Morrison has a 7-3 mark with a 3.04 ERA. Overall, the staff is holding hitters to a .228 batting average.

 #4 Otterbein (Roster | Schedule | Statistics)

The Cardinals are currently 23-11 overall with a 10-8 mark in the OAC. As a team, Otterbein is batting .278, with a 2.91 ERA and a .952 fielding percentage. The Cardinals average 7.7 hits and 4.6 runs per game.

At the Plate

Senior Savannah McCoppin is batting a team-best .356 with 37 hits, two doubles, one triple, and four RBIs. Sophomore Caroline Heller is batting .348 with a team-best 40 hits, six doubles, one home run, and 24 RBIs. 

In the Circle

The Cardinals pitching staff is led by freshman Bryn Grabowski and Graduate Student Jess Gunter.  Grabowski has an overall 13-4 record with a 2.25 ERA, and team-high 84 strikeouts. Gunter has a 10-7 mark with a 3.84 ERA. Overall, the pitching staff is holding hitters to a .244 batting average.