Softball earns a split with No. 20-ranked Mount Union with dramatic walk-off victory in nightcap

By Tim Glon

ADA — Sophomore Sydney Motylinski (Ida, Mich.) hit a 2-out, 2-run home run to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh and senior Abby Davis (New Palestine, Ind.) won the game with a bases loaded single in the bottom of the eighth to lead the Ohio Northern softball team to a dramatic split with No. 20-ranked Mount Union at the ONU Softball Field on Saturday.

The Polar Bears (9-8-1 Overall, 8-7 Ohio Athletic Conference) won the nightcap 11-10 after the Purple Raiders (17-3, 14-2) won the opener 14-4.

Trailing 10-8, Northern was down to its final out in the bottom of the seventh when sophomore Annika Murray (Hilliard/Bradley) smacked a 2-out double over the centerfielder's head.

Motylinski followed with her league-leading fifth home run, a blast that flew over the pine trees behind the center field fence, to tie the game at 10-10.

After Mount Union came up empty in the top of the eighth, Northern loaded the bases on a pair of walks sandwiched around a fielding error.

Davis the slapped a sharp single to left center to score junior Hannah Rubel (Swanton/Notre Dame) with the winning run.

Junior Stacey Walters (Sunbury/Big Walnut) earned the complete game victory in the circle to improve to 6-2 on the season.

Mount Union won the first game 14-4 in six innings as the game was called due to the NCAA's 8-run rule.

The Polar Bears will return to action next weekend with a 4-game series with Heidelberg. ONU will play twice at HU on Sunday and will host two games on Sunday.