Softball posts pair of seventh inning victories on Day 3 of Sunkissed Games

By Tim Glon

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Ohio Northern rallied in the seventh inning to post a pair of come-from-behind softball victories over Lebanon Valley (Pa.) and Misericordia (Pa.) on Tuesday afternoon at the Sunkissed Games at Osceola Park Field #5.

The Polar Bears remain undefeated at 6-0 and off to their best start since the 2009 squad opened the season 13-0.

Lebanon Valley falls to 1-2 and Misericordia falls to 3-5.

In the first game against LVC, Northern led 3-0 entering the top of the seventh when the Flying Dutchmen scored five unearned runs with two out to take a 5-3 lead.

Ohio Northern tied the game when junior Gabby Stewart (Union, Ky./St. Henry) delivered a 2-run, pinch-hit single to tie the game at 5-5.

Sophomore Lexie Hess (Mount Vernon) then ripped a pinch-hit double to advance sophomore pinch-runner Athena Triglia (Winchester, Calif./Chaparral) to third and Mallory Taylor (Olmsted Falls) followed with a sac fly to score Triglia with the game-winner.

Senior Kirsten Lightel (Tallmadge) struck out three and earned the complete-game victory to improve to 3-0.

In the second game against MC, ONU trailed 4-2 in the top of the sixth when freshman Brady Guest (Convoy/Crestview) hit a sac fly to score Hess and  followed with a single to score senior Jenna Hollar (Lima/Bath) and tie the game at 5-5.

In the top of the seventh, freshman Hailey Christian (Marysville) scored an unearned run on a bases loaded, two out fielding error by the Cougars, giving ONU a 5-4 lead.

Junior Kaitlin Surdej (Lancaster/Central) completed her complete game victory by retiring the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to improve to 3-0.

Hollar led the ONU offense with four hits and four runs on the day.

After three consecutive double headers, the Polar Bears will take Wednesday off and will return to action Thursday with games against Illinois College and Westminster (Pa.) in Kissimmee.