Ordean, Simmons lead Softball to victories over St. Vincent (Pa.), Johnson State (Vt.)

By Tim Glon

ADA — Freshman Paige Ordean was stellar in the circle and sophomore Lindsay Simmons keyed a 4-run sixth inning to lead the Ohio Northern softball team to a 4-3 victory over St. Vincent (Pa.) on Sunday afternoon at the Dot Richardson Games.

Ordean then threw a 5-hit shutout in the second game of the day as ONU blanked Johnson State (Vt.) 3-0 Sunday evening.

The Polar Bears improve to 2-2 on the young season.

Against St. Vincent, Ordean (2-1) took a 1-hit shutout into the top of the seventh frame and finished with a complete-game 5-hitter to notch her first career victory.

Simmons snapped a scoreless tie with a RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning, sparking a 4-run rally.

Senior Bree Hiteshew started the rally with a leadoff single, promptly stole second and scored on Simmons' single.

Senior Christin Miller followed with a single to make it 2-0.

After SVC turned a double play to apparently end the rally, junior Kelly Sheridan knocked a two-out single, stole second and scored on a triple by sophomore Anne Dreher to make it 3-0.

Senior Colleen Baliga followed with a RBI single to score Dreher and make it a 4-0 game.

Northern would need all four runs as SVC would collect four consecutive one-out base hits in the top of the seventh to pull within 4-3.

But Ordean would slam the door on the Bearcats by striking out the final two batters to end the game.

Ordean stayed hot against Johnson State in the nightcap, throwing her first career shutout.

The Polar Bears will wrap return to action Tuesday with games against Regis (Mass.) and St. Mary's (Minn.)