Softball falls 9-5 to WPI (Mass.), defeats Saint Joseph's (Maine) 14-4
By Caleb Scott
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Ohio Northern softball team dropped a 9-5 decision to WPI (Mass.) on Friday afternoon before defeating Saint Joseph's (Maine) convincingly, 14-4 during its spring break trip at the Sunkissed Games in Kissimmee, Florida.
The Polar Bears move to 8-2 on the year, while the Engineers improve to 7-3 and the Monks fall to 2-8.
In the first contest of the day, WPI got off to a strong start after scoring the contests first five runs in the top of the first inning and taking a 5-0 lead.
With senior Jenna Hollar (Lima/Bath) on base in the bottom of the first and third innings, senior Kirsten Lightel (Tallmadge) would lay down a pair of singles to plate Hollar and close the gap to 5-2.
Sophomore Jordan Cloonan (Kirtland/Cornerstone Christian) drove Lightel home in the bottom of the third to pull within 5-3, before freshman Bryanna McEwen (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) scored on a wild pitch and cut the gap to 5-4 through three innings.
WPI would tally three runs over the next three innings to extend its lead to 9-4.
Junior Hailee Loughman (Brookville) earned an RBI in the bottom of the seventh with a sac fly to left field, but ONU couldn't get any closer as the Engineers won 9-5.
The Polar Bears responded in a big way in its second game of the day, scoring the contests first 10 runs of the game in the first three innings.
Northern used a 10-run third inning to take a commanding 10-0 lead.
The Monks would score the next four runs of the contest to cut into the lead and climb within 10-4.
ONU ensured the victory in the top of the seventh inning scoring four runs to seal the 14-4 victory.
In that inning, Hollar cleared the bases with two Polar Bears on base with a triple to left field to push the lead to 12-4.
Hollar would score on an error from St. Joseph's first baseman before Stewart capped the victory with a double to right field to plate freshman Olivia Ames (West Liberty/Salem) and give Northern the 14-4 victory.
Junior Kaitlin Surdej (Lancaster/Central) earned the victory in he pitchers circle, pitching a complete game and striking out three batters.
Northern returns to action tomorrow afternoon, wrapping its spring break trip up with contests against Rowan (N.J.) at 1:30 p.m. and McDaniels (Md.) at 3:45 p.m.