Dani Steepe throws a 2-hit shutout as Softball earns split with Wilmington

By Tim Glon

WILMINGTON — Sophomore Dani Steepe threw a 2-hit shutout to lead the Ohio Northern softball team to a split at Wilmington on Tuesday.

The Polar Bears (19-7 overall, 10-2 Ohio Athletic Conference) won the nightcap 1-0 after the Quakers (13-19, 4-8) rallied for a 4-3 win in 8 innings in the opener.

Steepe improved to 3-0 on the season with the victory. She struck out eight and allowed just two hits and one walk.

The Polar Bears scored the game's lone run in the top of the third when senior All-American Kimi Blewett drew a bases loaded walk to score sophomore Colleeg Baliga.

In the opener, sophomore Chrstin Miller went 4-for-5 to lead the ONU offense.

Northern took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when senior All-American Jackie Mangola had a 2-out double to score Miller and junior Ashley Sujkowski followed with an RBI single.

WC got a 3-run home run from Shilling in the bottom of the fifth to go up 3-2, but ONU quickly tied the game with an RBI double by Baliga in the top of the sixth.

The Quakers won the game on a 1-out single by mariner that scored Lee from third base.

The Polar Bears will return to action Saturday with a twin-bill at home against Baldwin-Wallace.