Belliveau, Guitar record three hit games in Baseball's victories over Widener (Pa.) and Olivet (Mich.)

By: Andrew Korba

FORT MYERS (Fla.) -- Junior Dan Belliveau and sophomore Nick Guitar each had three hit games as the Ohio Northern baseball team picked up wins over Widener (Pa.) and Olivet (Mich.) on Thursday at the Gene Cusic Classic.

The Polar Bears now stand at 4-2 on the season.

The first game against Widener was delayed over four hours by inclement weather, pushing back the start time of the second game versus Olivet.

Against Widener (5-2), Guitar led ONU went 3-for-4 with two triples and three RBI's as Northern won 8-6.

Sophomore Clay Small added two hits and Belliveau drove in two runs.

The Polar Bears struck early, plating five runs in the first inning.

Junior Derek Lenardos led off with a single and moved to second when junior Jack LaMarca was hit by a pitch.

Belliveau came up and tripled to score both runners and Guitar followed with a single to score Belliveau and make it 3-0 in favor of ONU.

After a single by sophomore Reed Allen, Small laced a single to left to score Guitar.

Sophomore Cody Meyer singled two batters later, scoring Allen and making it 5-0.

The Polar Bears expanded their lead to 7-0 in the fourth on a two run triple from Guitar.

Widener would chip away, scoring once in the fifth, twice in the sixth and once in the seventh, to cut the Northern lead to 7-4.

A sac fly from Allen in the seventh pushed Northern's lead to 8-4.

Widener would score two more runs in the eight, but junior Brady Foley picked up the final four outs of the game for his first save of the season

Senior Matt Magni picked up his first win, surrendering three runs in five innings of work.

In the game against Olivet (0-1), Belliveau went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI's.

ONU got on the board in the first inning when Belliveau doubled to left scoring LaMarca.

The Comets would push runs across in the second and third to jump in front 2-1.

Northern struck for two runs in the fourth to take the lead back at 3-2 on RBI singles by senior Daniel Rodriguez and Foley.

ONU tacked on another run in the sixth on a RBI double by Foley, that scored Rodriguez.

The Polar Bears put the game away in the eighth, scoring three times.

Senior Tyler Deitering led off with a triple.

After a groundout, Foley walked and LaMarca hit into a fielders choice, scoring Deitering.

Belliveau followed with a triple, scoring LaMarca. He would score on a wild pitch to expand the Northern lead to 7-2.

Freshman Devin Carr (1-1) went seven innings, scattering three hits and giving up two runs, while striking out four.

Senior Chad Smith pitched the final two innings, striking out four batters.

Ohio Northern will return to action on Friday when it continues play in Florida at 10 am against Kenyon.