Offense Powers Softball past Wooster in Regular-Season Finale

The Muskingum softball team erupted for 22 runs on 25 hits to sweep non-conference opponent Wooster in its regular-season finale on Sunday afternoon. The Muskies shutout Wooster 5-0 in game one and secured a 17-2 game two victory. 

The Basics

• Records: Muskingum (30-10 Overall, 14-4 OAC), Wooster (17-21 Overall, 8-8 NCAC)
• Location: Donna J. Newberry Field – New Concord, Ohio

Notables

• The contest concluded the regular season for both teams.
• With the sweep, Muskingum finishes with an overall record of 30-10 and 14-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
• Muskingum earned the #2 seed in the upcoming Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament hosted by Ohio Northern starting on Friday, May 6, thru Sunday, May 8.

How it Happened – Game One

• After two scoreless innings, a Haley Hawk RBI single up the middle plated the first run of the game.
• Still in the third inning, Muskingum added its second run off a Piteo RBI single to left field.  Muskingum held a 2-0 advantage.
• The Muskies plated two more runs in the fourth off a Wooster wild pitch and a Taylor Gallentine ground out to the shortstop, giving the host a 4-0 lead.
• Muskingum concluded their scoring in the fifth off a Kalie Eshelman RBI double down the right-field line. 
• Muskingum secured a 5-0 shutout victory. 

Inside the Numbers

• Muskingum scored 5 runs on 12 hits.
• Sophomore Madelyn Thomas fired five innings of work and tossed four strikeouts to earn her 12th win of the year. Thomas has registered 99 season strikeouts.
• Junior Sarah Piteo led the Muskie offense with a 3-for-3 effort while also driving in an RBI.
• Junior Taylor Gallentine, senior Haley Hawk, and sophomore Kalie Eshelman each finished with one hit and an RBI apiece. 
• Freshman Madison Johnson, senior Cristianna Boggs, junior Claire Warschauer, and junior Carlee Lamacz contributed to the Muskingum bats by adding a hit to the game.

How it Happened – Game Two

• Muskingum opened the game by plating the first four runs of the game. Haley Hawk got the scoring started with a two-run RBI single up the middle.
• Wooster looked to threaten in the second with bases loaded, but Hannah Smith struck out the next three Wooster batters to spoil the Fighting Scot rally.
• The Muskies erupted for an eight-run, six-hit second inning adding to their lead. Sarah Piteo, Claire Warschauer, Carlee Lamacz, and Cristianna Boggs each added RBIs to extend the Muskie 12-0 lead.
• Wooster struck the scoreboard in the fourth off an Anna Norby two-run home run to make it 12-2.
• Muskingum got the offense going again in the fourth, plating their five final runs to extend their lead 17-2. The inning highlighted a Lynsey Dudley three-run home run, and Cameron Baileys' first collegiate hit and RBI. 

Inside the Numbers

• Muskingum scored 17 runs on 13 hits.
• Senior Hannah Smith tossed 4.1 innings of work and fired five strikeouts. Smith earns her 15th win, while also registering 106 season strikeouts.
• Freshman Lyndsey Dudley finished with a home run and three RBIs, to lead the Muskie offense.
• Senior Haley Hawk, junior Sarah Piteo, and junior Carlee Lamacz, each finished with a one-hit and an RBI apiece.
• Senior Cristianna Boggs finished 2-for-3 while registering an RBI, while freshman Cameron Bailey ended with a hit and an RBI.
• Junior Taylor Gallentine and senior Katie Osburn ended with two hits each.
• Sophomore Madison Johnson and freshman Megan Alspaugh ended with a hit apiece.

Up Next

• Muskingum will next compete at the OAC Softball Tournament scheduled for Friday, May 6 through Sunday, May 8, hosted by Ohio Northern. The second-seeded Muskies will play third-seeded Mount Union, on Friday, May 6. Game time is set for 10:00 a.m.