Baseball splits a pair with Loras (Iowa) losing 8-5 in Game 1, but grabs a 2-1 victory in Game 2.

AUBURNDALE, Fla. — The Ohio Northern baseball team split a double header against Loras (Iowa) losing game one 8-5, and winning 2-1 in the second on Friday afternoon. 

The Basics

• Records: Ohio Northern (9-4 overall), Loras (10-5 overall).
• Venue: Lake Myrtle #3- Auburndale, Fla.

Game One L, 8-5

• Ohio Northern trailed early, but took the lead in the bottom of the 4th on a 4-run inning.
• Two of these came on an RBI single by senior Andrew Stechschulte (Findlay) and a fielding error which allowed sophomore Devon Morris (Archbold) to score. 
• Senior Elliott Veenstra (Findlay/Liberty-Benton) capped the inning off with an RBI double that made it 4-1 Polar Bears. 
• Loras then stole the lead and went up 8-4. 
• Northern socred one run in the bottom of the 7th on a Morris RBI single, but that's all they could get.
• Senior Sam Thombs (Commerce Township, Mich./Lutheran) threw 5.1 innings and struck out 9 batters. 

Game Two W, 2-1 

• Northern took the lead in the 1st inning on a bases-loaded RBI walk by freshman Charlie Oakleaf (New Albany).
• Loras answered in the 3rd inning tying the game 1-1.
• The Polar Bears retook the lead in the 5th inning thanks to an RBI single by Veestra, which gave them a 2-1 they wouldn't surrender.
• Senior Joe Tootle (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) started on the mound and secured his 3rd win of the season, throwing 5.1 innings allowing only a single run.
• Sophomore Matt Serdinak (Sagamore Hills/Walsh Jesuit) shut the door on Loras picking up his 1st save of the season. 

Notables

• The all-time series between Northern and Loras remains tied at 3-3. 
• Veenstra led the offense with 4 hits on the day as well as 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored.
• Through 13 games this season, sophomore Evan Russ (Westfield, Ind.) leads the Polar Bears with a .467 batting average, going 14-for-30 with 12 RBI.
• Senior Andrew Stechschulte (Findlay) now has 92 base hits in 99 career games.
• Junior Chase Armstrong (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) now has 92 base hits in 87 career games.
• Ohio Northern is in its 120th season of baseball. The Polar Bears are 1475-1158-20 all-time, a winning percentage of .560.
• 14th-year head coach Gene Stechschulte is now 287-210 at Ohio Northern for a winning percentage of .577.

Up Next

• The Polar Bears will continue its spring break trip on Saturday with a match up against Immaculata (Pa.) beginning at 1:15 pm.