Softball scores 12 in the top of the ninth inning of Game 1 in an OAC double header split at Mount Union

By Ashley Birchmeier

ALLIANCE — Senior Jamie Westenkirchner homered in the top of the ninth inning to key a 12-run rally as the Ohio Northern softball team defeated Mount Union 17-5 in game one of a double header at 23^rd Street Field on Sunday afternoon.

Mount Union won game two 9-8 to earn the split.

The Polar Bears move to 11-6 overall and is 2-2 in Ohio Athletic Conference action, while Mount Union moves to 10-8, 3-1.

Ohio Northern plated 12 runs in the ninth inning to snap a 5-5 tie in route to the game one win.

The Polar Bears struck first as freshman Gia Saturday hit a sacrifice fly to left field in the top of the first that scored freshman Jenna Hollar to make it 1-0.

ONU added one more run in the top of the second before Mount Union responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the third.

In the top of the fifth, Hollar hit a sacrifice fly to knot the score at 3-3.

The Polar Bears would add two more runs in the top of the sixth as senior Kelly Sheridan and junior Amanda Lahti both capitalized on Mount Union errors to take the lead 5-3.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Mount Union's Brittany Baitt tripled to right center to lock the game at 5-5.

With two outs in the top of the ninth freshman Anna Martin singled up the middle for ONU to put Huddle in scoring position.

Hollar then singled to shortstop loading the bases, before a Mount Union miscue plated a run.

Saturday then earned a walk that was followed by a Sheridan RBI double that scored two more.

Ohio Northern continued its dominance in the inning as Lahti doubled to left scoring Sheridan.

Westenkirchner then cleared the bases as she went yard making the score 16-5 ONU.

Saturday closed out the inning with an RBI single plating the games final run in route to the 17-5 ONU victory.

Freshman pitcher Kirsten Lightel struck out five and improves to 7-1 overall this season.

In game two of the double header, the Polar Bears seventh-inning rally fell short as Mount Union defeated ONU 9-8.

Saturday led Ohio Northern in the game, recording three RBI.

Trailing 9-4 in the top of the seventh inning, Saturday hit a single to left field that scored two runs and pulled ONU within 9-6.

Lahti then hit a RBI single scoring two more runs to make it 9-8 before Lightel flied out to center to end the game.

ONU had 11 hits in the game.

The Polar Bears are next in action Tuesday when they host Wilmington at 3 pm at the ONU Softball Field.