ADA — The top-seeded and No.4-ranked Ohio Northern softball team knocked off second-seeded Mount Union 7-3 in Game 4 of the 2010 Ohio Athletic Conference Softball Tournament at the ONU Softball Field Friday evening and Saturday morning.

The game was postponed due to darkness at 8:20 pm on Friday and was completed at 10 am Saturday morning.

The Polar Bears (36-4) advance to play fourth-seeded Muskingum in game 5 at 11 am Saturday morning.

The winner of that contest will play third-seeded John Carroll for the championship Saturday at 1 pm. A JCU loss in that contest would foce a Game 7 in the double-elimination tournament.

Ohio Northern jumped out to a quick lead 4-0 in the top of the first.

Senior Mandi Fought led off with a single and advanced to third on a double by sophomore Jackie Mangola. After Mount Union recorded two outs, freshman Meghan Anten drilled her first career home run over the left field wall. Sophomore Cassie Gaye singled and then scored on an RBI triple by freshman Chrissy Rankin.

The Purple Raiders chipped away at the lead, scoring two runs in the third and one in the fourth.

Junior Jill Rader led off with a single and scored after a sacrifice bunt on an RBI single by freshman Kristin Gromes. After a single by senior Meghan Allen, Gromes scored an unearned run on an ONU error to cut the lead to 4-2.

In the fourth, senior Meghan Simons singled and was pinch run for by freshman Rachel Jesso. After a sacrifice bunt, Jesso advanced to third on a single by junior Mara Palombaro, before scoring on a double steal to make it a 4-3 game.

The Polar Bears answered with three runs in the top of the sixth.

Sophomore Katie Cretin drilled an RBI double off the wall to score Anten before an RBI single by senior Cortney Cash plated Cretin.

Fought singled, Jackie Mangola walked and sophomore Kimi Blewett picked up an RBI when she was hit by a pitch to push ONU's advantage to 7-3.

Sophomore Maggie Molnar tossed 4.2 innings in relief, allowing just one earned run and striking out two batters, to earn the win and improve to 12-0 on the season.