Softball clinches fourth consecutive OAC title with soggy 14-2 victory over Capital
By Tim Glon
ADA -- The Ohio Northern softball team clinched its fourth consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season title with a 14-2 victory on a rainy Wednesday at the ONU Softball Field.
The Polar Bears improve to 23-8 overall and are 13-2 in OAC play, while the Crusaders fall to 21-15 and 6-8 in conference.
Game 2 of the doubleheader was rained out after a steady rain fell throughout Game 1.
Despite that rain, ONU has clinched the No. 1 seed and will host the 2012 OAC Tournament May 4-5 at the ONU Softball Field.
Junior Ashley Sujkowski drilled a three-run home run and finished with 4 RBI to lead ONU's 13-hit attack.
The game was called in the fifth inning due to the NCAA's run rule.
Freshman Kelly Sheridan and senior All-American Jackie Mangola each had RBI doubles and Sujkowski added a RBI ground out as ONU took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
CU scored twice in the top of the second to pull within 3-2, but ONU sent 13 batters to the plate in an eight-run second frame to take control of the game.
Sophomore Christin Miller had a run-scoring triple, Mangola drew a bases-loaded walk and senior Cassie Gaye had a three-run double as ONU went up 8-2.
Sophomore Colleen Baliga had an RBI double, Miller had a run-scoring single and freshman Jamie Westinkirchner scored on an error to cap the rally.
Sujkowski's three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning made it a 14-2 ballgame.
The Polar Bears will wrap up their regular season on Saturday with a twin-bill at OAC foe Muskingum.
