Mangola, Blewett each hit homers as No. 15 Softball posts two shutouts
By: Monique Bowman
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Ohio Northern's softball squad earned two shutouts in Day 3 of the National Collegiate Sports Invitational, recording an 8-0 win over Cabrini (Pa.) Wednesday morning followed by a 10-0 win over Mary Washington (Va.) in the afternoon.
The No. 15 Polar Bears improve to 3-3 overall while Cabrini falls to 0-3 and Mary Washington falls to 5-8.
Two ONU players went 3 for 3 against the Cavaliers, including sophomore Katy Newman who also scored three times and freshman Christin Miller who scored once and recorded an RBI.
Junior Jackie Mangola homered for the first time this season as she went 2 for 3 at the plate.
Defensively, junior Lauren Hurd picked up the win, posting five strikeouts and allowing only three hits.
The Polar Bears started scoring in the bottom of the first when sophomore Ashley Sujkowski singled then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Junior Kim Blewett singled deep into right field to bring in Sujkowski.
Next up was Mangola, who doubled and brought in Blewett from second. ONU left the inning up 2-0.
Into the second inning, Sujkowski doubled with runners on first and second to bring Newman in and advance Miller to third to go up 3-0.
Mangola struck again in the third inning as the first batter up and blasted one over the left field fence.
The Polar Bears capped that with a three-run fourth inning and one more in the fifth to seal the game.
"We finally started to relax this game. I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to prove how good we were," first-year head coach Kim Burke says. "This week we're focusing on getting everyone reps and developing that chemistry."
Northern opened up game two against Mary Washington with four runs, including Blewett's homerun that also brought in Sujkowski waiting at first.
Mangola would pick up her third RBI in the second inning of the day when she sac flied out to right field to bring in Miller from third base.
Two more runs in the fourth inning followed by three in the sixth would finish out the game.
Mangola was 2 for 2 in her outing against the Eagles, while Miller, Sujkowski and junior Katie Cretin each went 2 for 3 at the plate.
Freshman Dani Steepe picked up her first win of the season and is now 1-1 overall from the circle. She tossed six strikeouts and allowed only one hit.
The Polar Bears wrap up their spring break trip Thursday with another game against the Eagles at 1:30 p.m. followed by a 5:30 p.m. contest against Greensboro (N.C.) College.