SALEM, Va. — April Rader delivered a two-out single which proved to be all the offensive production Muskingum would need as they knocked off top-seeded Chapman 2-1 in the second game of Sunday’s action at the NCAA Division III National Championship. 

The Muskies (43-6) collected 11 hits in the game, but were only able to muster runs in the two-run fourth. With two outs in the inning, Kim Tackett stepped up and delievered a double to left center that put runners at second and third with Rader coming up. Rader then took an Erin Bryant pitch and flared it just out of the reach of second baseman Katherine Searing to plate the two deciding runs. 

Erica Hoyt, who had been roughed up for five runs and five hits in her first two appearances in the tournament, held the Panthers hitless until the fourth when Brittany Ziegler led off with a double and scored two batters later as Melissa Simerlink laced a double down the left field line. 

Hoyt settled down, however, allowing only one Chapman runner to reach base over the final three frames to pick up the win. Hoyt allowed just three hits and one run in the complete-game outing. 

Bryant suffered the loss for the Panthers as she allowed both runs and eight hits in four innings before giving way to Marissa Becerra for the final three frames. 

Muskingum takes on Salisbury in Sunday’s elimination game nightcap at the Moyer Sports Complex.