Softball splits games on penultimate day of spring break trip

CLERMONT, Fla. — The Ohio Northern softball team defeated North Park (Ill.) 11-2 and lost to Beloit (Wis.) 4-3 Thursday on the penultimate day of its annual spring break trip.

The Basics

• Records: Ohio Northern (5-3 overall), North Park (2-4 overall), Beloit (4-3 overall)
• Venue: Legends Way #5 - Clermont, Fla.

Game 1 - W, 11-2 (5 innings)

• The Polar Bears scored six runs in the fourth inning and five more in the fifth to rally from a 2-0 deficit to post the win.
• The game was called after five innings due to the NCAA's 8-run rule.
• Senior Kaylie Griffin (Grafton/Elyria Catholic) led the ONU offense going 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and a career-best six RBI.
• She had a 3-run double to key the 6-run fourth, then ended the contest with a 3-run home run in the fifth.
• Junior Ashley Lenser (Brookville) gave up a 2-run home run in the top of the second, but was in control the rest of the game, allowing only five hits while striking out three to earn the win and improve to 3-1 on the year.

Game 2 - L, 3-4

• Beloit scored four runs in the home half of the first inning and held off a late ONU charge.
• Trailing 4-1 entering ther top of the seventh, ONU got a 1-out sac fly from sophomore Allie Wilson (Wapakoneta) to make it 4-2.
• Griffin then scored on an error and it was 4-3.
• The Polar Bears got a walk from freshman Carlie Schroeder (Wapakoneta) to load the bases with two out, but could not push the equalizer across the plate.
• ONU out-hit the Buccaneers 8-5.

Notables

• The Polar Bears have played eight of the 10 games scheduled on their spring break trip.
• Wilson and Lenser lead Ohio Northern in batting thus far this season with averages of .529 and .480, respectively.
• Lenser is 3-1 with 22 strikeouts and a 2.23 ERA in 22.0 innings in the circle.
• Northern is now 2-0 all-time against North Park and 0-1 all-time against Beloit.
• Ohio Northern is in its 57th season of softball. The Polar Bears are 977-663-4 all-time, a winning percentage of .593.
• Seventh-year head coach Jackie Price is now 159-95-1 at Ohio Northern for a winning percentage of .625.

Up Next

• The Polar Bears will wrap up their spring break trip on Friday with games against the University of New England (maine) at 9:45 am and Fredonia State (N.Y.) at Noon in Kissimmee, Fla.