Amanda Lahti and Gia Saturday lead Softball in double header split with Capital

By Caleb Scott

ADA -- Senior Amanda Lahti and sophomore Gia Saturday led the Ohio Northern softball team as they split their final regular season matchup with Capital 2-3, 7-2.

The Polar Bears improve to 23-17 overall and 11-7 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while the Crusaders fall to 19-19, 8-10.

Ohio Northern also clinched a spot in next week's 4-team OAC Tournament at Otterbein.

Lahti went 4-for-6 on the afternoon and added three runs for Northern, while Saturday went 3-for-5 and added two RBI and a run scored.

In game one, Capital jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Northern closed the gap in the bottom of the fourth inning. 

After sophomore Miranda Huddle got on base, freshman Laura Burden would hit an RBI single just over the first baseman to score Huddle and close the gap to 3-1.

The Polar Bears would continue chipping away at the Crusader lead in the sixth inning as senior Tessa Topp was able to reach on a fielder's choice and Lahti scored to pull Northern within 3-2.

After ONU threatened with runners on the corners in the bottom of the seventh, Capital was able to turn a quick double play to seal the victory. 

Northern came out aggresively in game two as they posted five runs in the bottom of the first inning.

After back-to-back singles from sophomore Jenna Hollar and junior Megan Hupp, freshman Kylie Asmus would drive them home with a two RBI double to center field and give Northern a 2-0 lead.

With Lahti and Asmus on base, Saturday would hit another double over the center fielder and push the Polar Bear lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the first inning.

After a single from Huddle loaded the bases, sophomore Leanna Henry would earn the easy RBI as she was walked and Lahti scored to extend the lead to 4-0.

Sophomore Anna Martin would help ONU score their final run of the inning as she hit a sacrifice fly to center field and scored Saturday.

Northern would add two insurance runs in the bottom of the second inning as Saturday hit an RBI single to left field and Henry hit an RBI single to center field to push the lead to 7-0.

The Crusaders scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning before the contest was called due to rain. 

Northern would go on to earn the 7-2 victory.

Sophomore Kirsten Lightel earned the victory on the mound in game two for the Polar Bears and improved to 15-6 as she gave up only one hit and struck out four batters.