No. 15 Softball falls to York (Pa.) before winning big against Cabrini (Pa.)
By: Monique Bowman
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — The No. 15 Polar Bear softball team split in day two of the National Collegiate Sports Invitational, falling to York (Pa.) 7-1 Tuesday morning before picking up a dominating 12-0 win versus Cabrini (Pa.).
In game one, the Spartans opened up scoring in the third with a single by Michelle Barwick that brought in runners on second and third.
ONU tried to put together a response at with its next at-bat. Junior Kim Blewett singled and with pinch runner Meghan Anten running, advanced to second on a pitcher error.
Junior Jackie Mangola followed up with a single that pushed Anten to third. But with runners on second and third later on, ONU could not score and left the inning still down 2-0.
York scored two more in the top of the fifth to go up 4-0.
Northern would finally respond with its next turn on a Blewett single to center field that brought in a waiting Alia Brodie. But York would seal the game with three more runs in the seventh for the win.
Blewett went 3 for 4 against the Spartans with one run batted in. Freshman Dani Steepe would take her first loss of the season.
The Polar Bears bounced back in a major way in game two against Cabrini. Starting in the third inning, a fielder's choice brought in Christin Miller who had advanced on a single and sac fly.
Later in the inning, Mangola would single to bring in Brodie who was waiting at third base. ONU would come finish the inning up 2-0.
ONU would have a big fifth inning, scoring four runs on four hits. An inning later, six more runs would follow on eight more hits by the Polar Bears.
Freshman Carly McKenzie finished the game 3 for 4 with one RBI, while Brodie also finished 3 for 4 and scored three times. Blewett also had three hits and brought in three runners.
Bensing picked up her first win of the season, pitching 10 strikeouts and keeping the Cavaliers to just four hits. The Polar Bears finished out the day 1-3 overall.
ONU continues its spring break trip Wednesday with two more games. Cabrini is up again at 11:30 a.m. followed by a game against Mary Washington (Va.) at 1:30 p.m.