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Ohio Northern University

Softball moves to 4-0 with victories over Thiel (Pa.) and Widener (Mass.) at Sunkissed Games

Softball moves to 4-0 with victories over Thiel (Pa.) and Widener (Mass.) at Sunkissed Games
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March 5, 2018

By Caleb Scott

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Ohio Northern softball team stayed perfect after the second day of the Sunkissed Games with a 7-1 victory over Thiel (Pa.) and an 8-3 victory over Widener (Pa.) on Monday afternoon.

The Polar Bears move to 4-0 with the victories, while Theil (Pa.) drops to 1-2 and Widener (Mass.) falls to 0-2.

Senior Jenna Hollar (Lima/Bath) led the way for the Polar Bears, going a combined 5-for-8 in the two contests with two RBI, four runs scored and two stolen bases.

Sophomore Gabby Stewart (Union, Ky./St. Henry) also had a solid afternoon, recording four hits, two runs and adding a team-best four RBI in the two contests.

In the first game of the day against Thiel, a triple from sophomore Alicia Swierz (Deerfield/Southeast) drove home Hollar in the bottom of the first inning to give ONU an early 1-0 lead.

Northern added three more runs in the bottom of the third following an RBI single from senior Miranda Huddle (Versailles) and a 2-RBI double from Stewart.

Thiel would score its lone run of the contest in the top of the fourth inning before singles from Huddle and Stewart in the bottom of the fourth plated three more runs and sealed the 7-1 victory.

Senior Kirsten Lightel (Tallmadge) earned the game one victory, throwing a complete game and striking out 10 batters.

In the second contest against Widener, Hollar would single, steal second and advance to third on a fielders choice ground out, before scoring on a passed ball to give ONU a 1-0 lead midway through the first inning.

A 2-run home run from the Pride in the bottom of the first allowed Widener to take a 2-1 lead.

With sophomore Athena Triglia (Winchester, Calif./Chaparral) and freshman Olivia Ames (West Liberty/Salem) on base in the top of the second inning, Hollar drilled a 2-RBI double down the left field line to help ONU regain the lead at 3-2.

The Polar Bears added another in the bottom of the third following a single from sophomore Brady Guest (Convoy/Crestview) that plated Stewart to push the lead to 4-2 through three innings.

Ames was able to capitalize on a Widener fielding error in the bottom of the fourth inning to push the lead to 5-2.

The Polar Bears plated their final three runs of the afternoon in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend the lead to 8-2.

The Pride scored once more but couldn't get any closer as Northern went on the win 8-3.

Junior Kaitlin Surdej (Lancaster/Central) improved to 2-0 on the year with the victory in the pitchers circle. She struck out six batters in the victory.

The Polar Bears return to action tomorrow afternoon with a 1:30 p.m. matchup with Lebanon Valley (Pa.) and a 3:45 p.m. contest with Misericordia (Pa.).