Softball falls 7-3 at Adrian (Mich.) in rain-shortened contest

By Tim Glon

ADRIAN, Mich. -- The Ohio Northern softball team dropped a rain-shortened 7-3 decision at Adrian (Mich.) on Monday afternoon.

The Polar Bears fall to 11-14 on the season, while the host Bulldogs improve to 7-6-1.

ONU was actually within 7-5 when the game was called due to rain with two outs in the bottom of the sixth frame.

But per NCAA rules, the game reverts back to the last completed inning, so ONU's 2-run sixth inning will not count, neither will the results of AC's four batters in the bottom of the sixth frame.

The Bulldogs scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and added three runs in the bottom of the third to take a quick 7-0 lead.

But the Polar Bears battled back with a 3-run fifth inning, as seniors Carly McKenzie, Christin Miller and Colleen Baliga each had RBI singles in the rally.

Northern pulled within 7-5 in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by junior Adriana Sikora and a home run by McKenzie.

Adrian had two runners on and two out when the game was called, so McKenzie's home run and Sikora's sac fly will not count.

Despite that, McKenzie and Baliga each finished the day 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Northern will return to action Wednesday with an Ohio Athletic Conference double header against Otterbein at the ONU Softball Field.