Softball sweps Marietta 2-0, 6-1 in OAC twin-bill on Senior Day

Softball sweps Marietta 2-0, 6-1 in OAC twin-bill on Senior Day
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April 18, 2015

By Tim Glon

ADA -- Ohio Northern swept an Ohio Athletic Conference softball double header fwith 2-0, 6-1 victories over Marietta on Senior Day Saturday afternoon at the ONU Softball Field.

The Polar Bears move to 20-11 overall and 11-5 in the OAC, while the Pioneers move to 12-20, 5-11.

Although it was Senior Day, celebrating ONU seniors Taylor Manahan, Kelly Sheridan and Jamie Westenkirchner, it was all about the freshmen in Game 1.

Freshman Kirsten Lightel threw 4.2 innings of no-hit softball and finished the game with a 2-hit shutout with five strikeouts to improve to 13-2 in the circle.

Northern scored twice in the bottom of the sixth when freshman Jenna Hollar stole home on the back half of a double steal.

Freshman Anna Martin stole second at the front end of the play and advanced to third on the throw home. She then scored on a ground ball by freshman Gia Saturday.

In Game 2, Hollar's speed struck again in the bottom of the third inning when she hit a 2-run double into the left field corner and scored when the ball got past the left fielder and went all the way to the fence to put the Polar Bears ahead 3-0.

Westenkirchner than gave ONU a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth with a 3-run home run to deep center field. It was the seventh home run of Westenkirchner's career.

Sophomore Paige Ordean (6-5) earned the victory and Lightel threw 3.0 innings of shutout relief to earn her first career save.

The Polar Bears will return to action Thursday with a n on-league double header at Alma (Mich.)