Softball extends winning streak to five games, sweeps Baldwin Wallace 6-4, 9-1

By Caleb Scott

BEREA — The Ohio Northern softball team extended its winning streak to five games on Wednesday afternoon as it swept Baldwin Wallace 6-4, 9-1 at the BW Softball Field.

The Polar Bears move to 22-4 overall and 8-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while the Yellow Jackets fall to 10-14, 3-7.

Junior Hailee Loughman (Brookville) led the way offensively for the Polar Bears as she recorded four hits, three runs scored and added four RBI. The junior also added a home run in the second contest.

Senior Jenna Hollar (Lima/Bath) and sophomore Alicia Swierz (Deerfield/Southeast) each hit their first career home runs in the game two victory.

In the first contest, Northern fell behind 4-2 after three innings before scoring the games final four runs to post the 6-4 victory.

Northern got on the board first in the top of the third inning as sophomore Gabby Stewart (Union, Ky./St. Henry) plated Hollar and senior Miranda Huddle (Versailles).

After Baldwin Wallace scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning, junior Laura Burden (Pleasant Hill/Newton) singled up the middle to plate freshman Bryanna McEwen (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) and pull Northern within 4-3.

From there Stewart, sophomore Brady Guest (Convoy/Crestview) and Loughman scored to seal the 6-4 victory.

Senior Kirsten Lightel (Tallmadge) earned the victory in the pitchers circle, tossing a complete game and striking out seven batters.

In the second contest, three Polar Bears hit home runs in the top of the sixth inning to help lift ONU.

After Baldwin Wallace scored one early on, Northern answered with a 3-run third inning to take a 3-1 lead.

ONU added one run in the top of the fourth inning before posting a 5-run sixth frame to complete the 9-1 victory.

In the top of the sixth inning, Hollar hit a 2-RBI inside-the-park home run, before Swierz and Loughman each added their own home runs to seal the 9-1 victory.

Junior Kaitlin Surdej (Lancaster/Central) earned the victory in the pitchers circle, improving to 10-3 on the season.

The Polar Bears will return to action on Saturday afternoon as they travel to University Heights to take on John Carroll in a twinbill at 1 p.m.