Alma, Mich. - The Alma College softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Wittenberg University (OH) on Saturday (March 17), as the Scots staged their home opener at Scots Park. 

The Tigers (6-8 overall) captured Game 1, 12-8, while the Scots (11-3) pulled off the split with a 9-8 extra-innings victory in Game 2.

Alma travels to Thomas More College (KY) for a doubleheader on Sunday, March 18.

Game 1 - Wittenberg 12, at Alma 8

• The Tigers opened up an 8-2 lead after two innings and held an 11-3 advantage after four frames before senior Mary Brooks (Portland, Mich./Portland) hit a three-run shot in the top of the fifth to close the gap to 11-6.
• Wittenberg added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning, while the Scots scored once in the top of the sixth and seventh on a pair of RBI singles by junior Chelse Schweiger (St. Clair, Mich./St. Clair) and sophomore Madyson Piche (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich./Sault Area).
• Senior Katie McClure (Manchester, Mich./Manchester) was chased after giving up seven hits and six runs after one inning of work, while freshman Jenna Steinhoff (Gladstone, Mich./Gladstone) and Brooks split relief duties.
• Sophomore Cassidy Tucker (Coleman, Mich./Coleman) led Alma with three hits, including a triple, while senior Kennedy Hilley (Lake Odessa, Mich./Lakewood) tallied a pair of hits, including a double, along with two RBIs.

Game 2 - at Alma 9, Wittenberg 8 (9 innings)

• Mary Brooks scored in the bottom of the ninth on a throwing error to give the Scots the extra innings victory.
• Alma led, 2-0, to open the game on a two-run homer by junior Mackenzie Creed (Edwardsburg, Mich./Edwardsburg), but the Tigers tied the game in the top of the fourth with a pair of runs.
• The Scots regained the advantage in the bottom of the fifth on two RBI single by sophomore Kaylee Martin (North Branch, Mich./North Branch), but Wittenberg responded again, scoring twice in the top of the sixth. 
• Alma appeared to seal the win in the bottom of the sixth inning when Madyson Piche and Cassidy Tucker hit back-to-back home runs to put Alma up 8-6. The Tigers responded, however, with a pair of back-to-back shots of their own to send the game into extra innings, tied 6-6.
• Wittenberg scored twice in the top of the eighth to go up by an 8-6 margin, but the Scots came back in the bottom half of the frame when freshman Hannah Cambe (Demotte, Ind./Kankakee Valley) scored on an error, then Piche tied the game with a score after a throwing error.
• Mary Brooks picked up the win after working 2.1 innings of relief, while freshman Jazmine Hamm (Byron Center, Mich./Byron Center) tossed 6.2 innings and struck out three batters as the starter.

Up Next

Alma is scheduled to open a three-game road trip, starting on Sunday, March 17, with a doubleheader at Thomas More College (KY). Next weekend, the Scots visit Bluffton University (OH) and Ohio Wesleyan University before returning to Scots Park on Wednesday, March 28, to host nationally-ranked Trine University.