Junior Hailee Loughman hits back-to-back 3-run home runs, leads Softball in double header sweep over Mount Union

By Caleb Scott

ADA — Junior Hailee Loughman (Brookville) drilled back-to-back 3-run home runs in the first contest of ONU's softball double header with Mount Union to lead the Ohio Northern softball team to a 10-1, 8-1 sweep over Mount Union on Sunday afternoon at the ONU Softball Field.

Loughman led the Polar Bears (20-4 overall, 6-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference) with four hits, eight RBI and added three runs scored.

Mount Union falls to 9-15 overall and 2-6 in the OAC.

Northern got on the board first in the bottom half of the first inning as senior Jenna Hollar (Lima/Bath) scored following a bases loaded walk before senior Leanna Henry (West Jefferson) drove home a run with a single to push the lead to 2-0 after one inning.

After the Polar Bear defense held strong in the top of the second inning, sophomore Alicia Swierz (Deerfield/Southeast) hit a sacrfice fly and sophomore Brady Guest (Convoy/Crestview) hit an RBI single to push the lead to 4-0.

With two on the bases, Loughman drilled a home run over the left center fence to push the lead to 7-0.

Loughman wasted no time adding to the ONU lead as she hit another 3-run home run in her next at bat to make it 10-0.

MtU would score one run in the top of the fifth inning, but couldn't get any closer as ONU went on to win 10-1.

Senior Kirsten Lightel (Tallmadge) improved to 11-1 on the season with a victory in the pitchers circle, throwing a complete game and fanning five batters.

Northern got off to another quick start in the nightcap, tallying three runs in the bottom of the first inning as Swierz, Guest and sophomore Gabby Stewart (Union, Ky./St. Henry) scored to make it 3-0.

After Mount Union scored a run in the top of the second inning, Northern answered with two runs as Swierz and Hollar scored to push its lead to 5-1.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, ONU added on three more runs as Loughman, Swierz and Stewart scored to seal the 8-1 lead.

Junior Kaitlin Surdej (Lancaster/Central) earned the victory in the pitchers circle and improved to 9-3 on the season.

The Polar Bears return to action on Wednesday as they travel to Berea to take on Baldwin Wallace in a double header with the first game beginning at 3 p.m.