Softball uses a late rally to win game two and split with Bluffton

By Ashley Birchmeier

ADA — The Ohio Northern softball team used a late rally in game two of a double header with Bluffton to split Tuesday afternoon at the ONU Softball Field.

The Polar Bears move to 10-8 overall, while Bluffton moves to 8-8.

Bluffton claimed game one 10-4 before the Polar Bears used a late rally to win game two 9-8.

Northern was led by junior Megan Hupp who went 4-for-8 with three RBIs.

Freshman Kylie Asmus also had an impressive day as she went 3-for-8 with two RBIs for the Polar Bears.

In game two the Polar Bears scored early and often as Asmus hit an RBI single in the bottom half of the first inning to plate the games first run.

The Polar Bears would add two more runs in the second inning as sophomore Anna Martin singled to right field scoring sophomore Gia Saturday.

Martin would later score following a wild pitch from Bluffton's Nicole Thomas.

Bluffton would answer in the third inning as Brittany Huff went yard hitting a three run homer to deep center tying the contest at 3-3.

The Beavers would claim its first lead of the contest in the top of the fourth as they would capitalize on a pair of ONU miscues to claim the 6-3 advantage.

The Polar Bears continued to battle as Hollar would record her first RBI of the contest in the bottom of the fourth inning scoring freshman Mackenzie Sowers on a single to the shortstop.

Hollar would later score on a two RBI shot to center field by freshman Kylie Dickman that would put ONU back on top 8-6.

Bluffton would score two more runs in the top of the fifth inning before a single to center field from Asmus in the bottom half of the inning would score the game winning run.

Freshman Kaitlin Surdej claimed the win in the circle for ONU improving to 4-5 overall.

In game one, ONU fell behind early as Bluffton plated two runs in the top of the third inning.

The Polar Bears would try to claw their way back into the contest as Hupp would record an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning cutting the deficit to 2-1.

However, the Beavers would use a four run sixth inning and match it in the the seventh inning to withstand the Polar Bears en route to the 10-4 victory.

Northern returns to action Friday as they begin conference play at Marietta, first pitch scheduled for 3 pm.