Paige Ordean's second career no-hitter leads Softball to OAC split at Marietta

By Tim Glon

MARIETTA -- Freshman Paige Ordean fired her second career no-hitter to lead Ohio Northern to an Ohio Athletic Conference softball split at Marietta on Friday afternoon at Marietta Field.

The Polar Bears (17-16 overall, 10-6 OAC) won the opener behind Ordean's pitching masterpiece 7-0 while the Pioneers (20-12, 11-5) won the nightcap 6-3.

Ordean (12-8) walked five and allowed six baserunners in the complete-game victory. She previously threw a perfect game on March 4 against Regis (Mass.) in Orlando, Fla.

It was also her fourth shutout of the season.

Northern scored all the runs it would need in the second frame when senior Colleen Baliga had an RBI single and junior Kelly Sheridan followed with a run-scoring double to put the visitors up 2-0.

The Polar Bears put the game away with a 5-run fourth inning with RBI singles from senior Bree Hiteshew, Sheridan, sophomore Anne Dreher and senior Christin Miller and a sac fly from junior Adriana Sikora.

In Game 2, seniors Carly McKenzie, Miller and Hiteshew each had two hits to lead the ONU offense.

Marietta used a 3-run fifth inning to break open a tight 3-2 game and take a 6-2 advantage.

Northern got an RBI double from sophomore Amanda Lahti in the third and scored unearned runs in the fourth and sixth innings.

The Polar Bears will wrap up their regular season with three home double headers, beginning Wednesday against non-conference foe Anderson (Ind.)