Softball wins the nightcap 11-2, falls in the opener 5-4 in split at Wilmington

By Andrew Loewe

WILMINGTON — The Ohio Northern softball team won game two after a heartbreaking finish in game one to split a double header at Wilmington on Sunday at the WC Softball Complex.

The Polar Bears (12-13-1 overall, 11-12 Ohio Athletic Conference) won the second game 11-2 after the Quakers (14-12, 13-9) took the opener 5-4.

The Polar Bears were led led by a solid outing at the plate by sophomore Sydney Motylinski (Ida, Mich.) in game two.

Motylinski led the offense by scoring four times and driving in three runs, including a two-run home run in the seventh inning, and got on base all five plate appearances going 3-for-3 with two walks.

ONU scored in each of the first four innings to build a 6-0 advantage, then tacked on three more in the top of the sixth to go ahead 9-0.

Northern had 16 base hits in the second game.

Junior Stacey Walters (Sunbury/Big Walnut) recorded her tenth complete game of the season striking out eight and not allowing a single earned run.

In game one, the Polar Bears fell 5-4 after rallying from a 5-1 deficit with a three run seventh. Northern got the bases loaded in the top of the last down 5-4, but could not get the equalizer across the plate.

Senior Gabby Stewart (Union, Ky./St. Henry) started the scoring in the seventh inning with a single to drive in Renner and make the score 5-2.

Junior Hannah Rubel (Swanton/Notre Dame) singled in junior Abby Elliott (Loveland/Ursuline) to close the Quaker lead to 5-3 with no outs.

After two consecutive outs, the Polar Bears had the bases loaded with two outs trailing by two, when sophmore Annika Murray (Hilliard/Bradley) singled in a run to close the gap to 5-4.

But the Polar Bears grounded out into a fielder's choice to end the comeback attempt.

Ohio Northern will be back in action next weekend against Baldwin Wallace. The 4-game series will begin on Saturday with a doubleheader at the ONU Softball Field at 1 pm.