RICHMOND, Ind. – The Earlham College softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Wittenberg University in Ellie Bewley Stadium on Saturday.
GAME ONE: EARLHAM 2 WITTENBERG 5
Tatum Rickert threw a complete game in the first matchup of the day with eight hits and two earned runs allowed. The freshman scored four strikeouts in 121 pitches.
Bo Shelton went 3-for-4 at the plate, and was a home run shy of the cycle. Shelton got plenty of air on her first at-bat of the day, but it resulted in a deep flyout at the center field fence.
Bella Schatko went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
After a two-out double, the Tigers scored the first run of the day on a single up the middle in the top of the first frame. Wittenberg also added two runs in the top of the third inning, coming by way of a sacrifice bunt, and a double steal.
The Tigers scored two unearned runs on an outfield single in the top of the fifth inning, but Rickert left three more batters stranded on base.
With two outs and runners on first and second, Schatko hit a single to center field to bring Rickert home for the score.
Michaela King then hit an RBI single as a pinch hitter.
The Tigers managed to shut down the rally after making a call to their bullpen.
GAME TWO: EARLHAM 4 WITTENBERG 3
Morgan Cooksey threw a complete eight innings in game two with seven hits and two earned runs allowed. She also struck out two batters.
Emmerie Stump went 4-for-4 with two doubles, including the two-run walk-off double in the eighth inning. She also scored one run with two RBI.
Ariel Clarkston hit a double to right field in the bottom of the second frame to bring Stump home to score. Clarkston then scored on an infield single by
Faith Butler to lead 2-0.
The Tigers hit an RBI double in the top of the fifth inning. After plating one run in the top of the seventh, Wittenberg was looking for a sacrifice fly out to left field, but King delivered a pinpoint throw to
Kylie Rayburn behind the dish for a flyout-double-play to end the inning.
Leading off the eighth inning, the Tigers hit a triple to deep right field. The next batter then brought the runner home on a groundout to third base.
In the bottom of the eighth,
Malaya Tanglao reached on an infield single to lead off the frame. As a pinch runner,
Kymara Kennedy stole second base, and reached third on a hit by Shelton. After a Shelton steal, both runners sat in scoring position with no outs for Stump.
The southpaw delivered a walk-off shot to the center field fence that gave enough time for both runners to score and secure the win for the Quakers.
Earlham will be back in action on Wednesday at Wilmington College for a doubleheader starting at 3 pm.
