Polar Bears blank LaRoche, fall to Methodist at Ferrum Invitational

March 16, 2007

By Tim Glon

FERRUM, Va. — Sophomore Tina Mangola tied ONU's career home run record as the Ohio Northern softball team went 1-1 on the final day of the Ferrum Invitational tournament on Sunday.

The Polar Bears (9-5) fell to Methodist (N.C.) 8-5 early Saturday afternoon to complete pool play at 1-2.

Ohio Northern then blanked LaRoche (Pa.) 10-0 to finish the tournament with a 2-2 record.

Mangola and Liz Decima led the ONU offensive effort. Each went 4-for-6 with three RBI in the two games.

Methodist improves to 16-4 and finished a perfect 4-0 on the tournament. LaRoche falls to 1-3.

Stephenie Inkrott (5-3) and Katie Keslar combined for a 4-hit shutout in the win over LaRoche.

Courtney Cash had two doubles and Decima added a triple for ONU.

Against Methodist, Mangola drilled a 3-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game at 5-5. Her home run was the 14th of her young career and ties her for the ONU all-time career record of 14 by Melanie Ward from 2004-07.

Katie Salay hit a pinch-hit home run, her second of the tournament, in the bottom of the fourth to bring ONU within 5-2.

Methodist scored five runs in the top of the third and got three mopre in the top of the seventh to post the victory.

The Polar Bears will return to action March 15-16 at the Ferrum (Va.) Invitational.