Muskingum Softball earns 10th consecutive win against OWU

The Muskingum softball team earned their 10th consecutive win against OWU on Wednesday in their 2019 season home opener. The Muskies won game one 11-6 and captured game two 9-1 in five innings. 

THE BASICS

• Records: Muskingum (14-2 overall), OWU (4-8 overall)
• Location: New Concord, Ohio - Donna J. Newberry Field
• Weather: Clear, 58 degrees 

GAME ONE

Freshman Haley Hawk fired up the Muskies in the first inning with a single to center field, to score sophomore Karsyn Shaffer. Senior Kylie Zifer then doubled to left center to extend the gap to 4-0. Sophomore Bailey Waitkus led the charge with a two-run home run to give the Muskies an early 6-0 lead over the Battling Bishops. 

The Muskies widened the gap with two runs in the third inning. Ohio Wesleyan answered back with four runs on five hits in the top of the fifth inning to trim the deficit to 9-5. Senior Krissy Hughes scored on a wild pitch, giving the Muskies a six-run cushion (11-5) going into the sixth inning. 

Senior Rachel Eberling earned the win in the circle for the Muskies. Eberling tossed 4.1 innings and allowed five runs, with five strikeouts. Eberling earned her seventh victory of the season. Freshman Kassidy Reidenbach saw action in one inning, while sophomore Hannah Duff pitched 1.2 innings. 

Hughes went 4-for-4 at the plate and guided the Muskies with one double, one triple, and two runs scored. Zifer notched two RBIs and secured one double, while Waitkus logged two RBIs and recorded one home run. 

Nicole Peak led the Battling Bishops with two RBIs and tallied one double. Hailey De la vara took the loss for OWU after tossing one inning and allowing six runs on five hits.

GAME TWO

The Muskies secured the lead in the third inning when Hawk singled up the middle, to score Hughes. Eberling then cranked a grand slam to extend the lead to 6-1. Muskingum recorded two runs on four hits in the fourth inning en route to the 9-1 victory over the Battling Bishops.

Freshman Hannah Smith pitched a complete game four-hitter. Smith earned her fourth victory of the season. 

Hughes went 2-for-3 at the plate, securing one double and notching a team-best five stolen bases. Eberling locked in a team-high four RBIs with her grand slam. Hawk and sophomore Riley Powers chipped in one RBI each. 

Nicole Peak went 2-for-2 at the plate and guided OWU with one RBI. Madi Drabick took the loss for the Battling Bishops after tossing 3.1 innings and allowing eight runs on nine hits. 

UP NEXT

The Muskies next host Wilmington on Saturday, March 23 for their Ohio Athletic Conference opener. Game one of the scheduled doubleheader is slated for 1:00 p.m.