Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Wittenberg 10, Ohio Wesleyan 9
Ohio Wesleyan 3, Wittenberg 1

Fifth-year third baseman Alyssa Back (Newark) scored what proved to be the deciding run and junior righthander Makenna Knisley (Washington Court House/Washington) threw a complete-game win as Ohio Wesleyan defeated Wittenberg in the nightcap of a North Coast Athletic Conference doubleheader on Sunday at Denison University in Granville.

In the opener, the Bishops rallied to within 10-9 and had the winning run at second base in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Tigers held off the rally to take the win.

Ohio Wesleyan broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning of the nightcap.  Freshman outfielder Sylvie Devore (Dresden/Newark Licking Valley) led off with a single and Back followed with a fielder's choice on which both runners were safe.  Sophomore outfielder Chameron Vanden Eynden (Goshen) followed with a bunt single and the runners moved up an extra base on a throwing error by Tiger third baseman Rebekah Giel.  Vanden Eynden moved to second on an infield out, and senior catcher Avery Panozzo (Denver, Colo./Mullen) followed with a single that bounced off Wittenberg pitcher Samantha Zungri, scoring Back, with Vanden Eynden also coming in to score when Tiger shortstop Gada Bryant threw wide of third base while trying for a play at third.

Giel singled and Kirsten Wright was hit by a pitch to open the Wittenberg seventh.  Knisley bounced back to get the next 2 Tiger batters, but Kayla Drake singled to load the bases and Lilly James drew a walk to score Giel to make it 3-1.  Knisley then retired Bryant on an infield out to end the game.

Knisley allowed 6 hits in working the complete game.

The Tigers struck for 5 runs in the second inning of the opener, highlighted by a 2-run single by Meghan McCans.

Ohio Wesleyan got 2 runs back in the bottom of the inning on a run-scoring double by sophomore outfielder Rylea Gist (Delaware/Hayes) and an RBI single by senior outfielder Kelsey Wolfe (Apple Creek/Waynedale), and senior first baseman Sophie Leohner (Upper Arlington) plated a run with an infield out in the third to bring the Bishops within 5-3.

Wittenberg added 5 runs in the fourth, stringing together 6 hits, but the Bishops tallied 3 times in the fifth to pull within 10-6.

In the seventh, Gist and Wolfe opened the inning with singles before Tiger pitcher Lilly Shaw got the next 2 outs.  Back was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Vanden Eynden drove in a run with an infield single.  Freshman shortstop Caity Journey (Nashport/Dresden Tri-Valley) was hit by a pitch to score Wolfe, and Panozzo drew a walk to score Back to bring the Bishops within 10-9 before Tiger reliever Zungri retired Leohner on an infield out to end the comeback.

Wolfe was 3-for-4 for the Bishops, while Vanden Eynden went 3-for-5.  Senior righthander Kaelyn Rodriguez (South El Monte, Calif.) was the starting and losing pitcher for the Bishops.

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2