Offense shines as softball sweeps Ohio Wesleyan in road doubleheader

The Muskingum softball team recorded 15 hits en route to a doubleheader sweep against Ohio Wesleyan on Tuesday evening. The Muskies won the opener 10-4 and completed the sweep with a 3-0 shutout game two victory.

The Basics 
Records: Muskingum (11-3 Overall), OWU (4-8 Overall) 

Location: Margaret Sagan Field – Delaware, Ohio 

The Difference – Game 1 

• Muskingum jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third off a two-run home run from Claire Guilliams.
• The Muskies extended their lead, 5-0 in the fourth off a two-run RBI double to left field from Sarah Piteo and a two-out single down the left field line from Cara Taylor.
• With two outs, the Battling Bishops plated their first two runs of the game off a single to right field and capitalized on a Muskingum fielding error to make it, 5-2. 
• Muskingum added two more runs in the top of fifth off a two-run blast to center field from Haley Hawk. 
• Ohio Wesleyan's final two runs of the game came in the bottom of fifth off a two-run home run. Muskingum still held a 7-4 lead after five innings of play. 
• In the sixth, the Muskies plated three runs on two hits to grab a 10-4 lead. The inning was highlighted by a triple to right center from Sadie Smith.

Inside the Numbers – Game 1 

• Muskingum scored 10 runs off 11 hits.
• Senior Hannah Smith started the game, went four innings, and allowed four runs off five hits. Smith also fired four strikeouts and improved to 7-0 on the season.
• Junior Madelyn Thomas tossed the final three innings, and allowed no one runs off two hits, while also firing four strikeouts.
• Junior Kalie Eshelman led Muskingum going 2-for-3 at the plate which included a double and two runs scored.
• Senior Claire Guilliams finished with two hits which included a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs. 
• Senior Haley Hawk also finished with two hits and belted a home run. Hawk ended the contest with one run scored and two RBIs. 
• Freshman Cara Taylor also finished with two hits, a run scored, and an RBI.
• Freshman Taylor Stemmerding, senior Sarah Piteo, and freshman Sadie Smith each paced the Muskingum offense with one hit. Piteo added a double and two RBIs, while Smith smacked a triple and recorded an RBI. 
• Rylee Anspach led Ohio Wesleyan with two RBIs.
• Katie Chittum took the loss in the circle after allowing eight runs on eight hits in five innings of work. 

The Difference – Game 2 

• Muskingum scored all three runs of the contest in the second inning. Carlee Lamacz roped a double down the left field line to put the Muskies up 1-0. A sacrifice fly to center field from Sadie Smith extended the lead 2-0, while Claire Guilliams connected on a two-out single to the pitcher to push the Muskie lead, 3-0. 

Inside the Numbers – Game 2 

• Muskingum plated three runs off four hits.
• Junior Madelyn Thomas pitched a complete game allowing three hits on no runs. Thomas tallied two strikeouts and earned her fourth win of the season.
• Seniors Claire Guilliams and Carlee Lamacz each tallied a hit and an RBI for the Muskies. 
• Freshman Sadie Smith chipped in an RBI to pace the Muskingum bats.
• Senior Sarah Piteo added two hits.
• Avery Panozzo, Rylee Anspach, and Alyssa Perkins added one hit apiece to lead the Ohio Wesleyan offense.
• Makenna Knisely took the loss in the circle after allowing three runs off four hits.

Up Next 

• Muskingum is back in action on Wednesday, March 29, when they travel to take on Wittenberg. Game one is slated for a 3:30 PM start from Betty Doughman Dillahunt Field in Springfield, Ohio.