Mangola, Blewett each hit homers in OAC doubleheader sweep at Heidelberg, 7-3 and 5-4

By: Steve Green

TIFFIN — Junior All-Americans Kimi Blewett (Carmel, Ind.) and Jackie Mangola (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) launched two home runs apiece to lead the Ohio Northern softball team in a sweep of Ohio Athletic Conference foe Heidelberg by scores of 7-3 and 5-4 Tuesday afternoon at Mayer Field.

The doubleheader is the second straight in which Blewett and Mangola have hit homers.

Mangola has been on a tear at the plate that is unprecedented in ONU softball history.

Over the past eight games, Mangola rattled off a streak of 12 consecutive base hits, scoring 16 runs with 7 home runs, 15 RBI and an amazing 3.000 slugging percentage.

The reigning Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Week had also reached base safely in an incredible 29 consecutive plate appearances with 12 hits, 15 walks and twice being hit by pitch during that span.

She lined out to short in her final plate appearance against HU to end the streaks, but will take a 10-game hitting streak into ONU's next contest on Saturday at 1 pm against Baldwin-Wallace.

With the sweep, the Polar Bears improve to 17-7 on the season and stay atop the OAC with a 7-1 record, while Heidelberg falls to 18-8 on the season and 2-6 in the OAC.

Freshman Christin Miller (Mason) put the Polar Bears on the board in the third inning of game one when she scored on an error.

Mangola smacked a two-RBI home run that gave the Polar Bears a 3-2 lead to close out the third. She launched another home run in the fifth inning to add to the 4-2 Northern lead.

Blewett then crushed a three-RBI home run in the top of the seventh inning to put ONU ahead 7-3.

Junior Maggie Molnar (Columbus/Bishop Watterson) picked up the win in the circle, allowing three runs on 11 hits to improve to 5-2 on the season.

Northern took care of business in game two, winning by a score of 5-4.

Miller scored in the top of the first on a passed ball to give the Polar Bears an early 1-0 lead.

Northern added another run in the top of the third inning when Mangola doubled, scoring freshman Allie Brodie (Monroe, Mich.).

Blewett launched her seventh home run of the season in the fifth inning to push the Polar Bear lead to 3-0.

Northern added two more runs in the top of the seventh when sophomore Ashley Sujkowski (Rossford/Toledo Central Catholic) and junior Katie Cretin (Carmel, Ind.) crossed the plate to give Northern a 5-0 lead.

Sujkowski scored on a RBI single from sophomore Michelle Sweet (New Richmond), while Cretin scored on sacrifice fly by freshman Colleen Baliga (Crete, Ill./Marian Catholic).

Heidelberg scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh, but sophomore Katy Newman (Canton/South) was able to fend off  the Berg's comeback attempt to improve to 3-1 on the season.

Mangola finished her day 3 for 4 with two home runs, 4 RBI and reach base safely in her first seven plate appearances.

Miller was 5 for 9 with three runs scored and Blewett was 3 for 7 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI in the twin-bill.