Softball use a 6th inning rally to defeat Heidelberg 6-3 in game 6 of the OAC Tournament
By: Ashley Birchmeier
TIFFIN — Ohio Northern softball, led by freshman pitcher Kirsten Lightel, defeated top-seeded Heidelberg in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament 6-3 Saturday afternoon at Frann's Field to continue its tournament run.
Northern moves to 24-13 overall, while Heidelberg falls to 29-9.
The two teams will square off Sunday at noon with a winner takes all championship.
Lightel led the Polar Bears in the contest pitching her fourth complete game of the tournament and picking up her 17th win of the season.
The freshman surrendered just three hits to the Student Princes.
The ONU offense came alive in the bottom of the sixth as they rallied to plate 6 runs on 7 hits en-route to the 6-3 win.
In the inning, junior Tessa Topp led the Polar Bears as she hit an RBI double to left tying the game 3-3.
Senior Jamie Westenkirchner followed up Topp in the inning as recorded an RBI double scoring another Polar Bear run and giving ONU its first lead of the contest 4-3.
Freshman Jenna Hollar rounded out the inning for ONU as she too recorded an RBI scoring the games final run.
Heidelberg scored first in the contest as they plated two runs in the top of the third to take the early 2-0 lead.
The Student Princes weren't done as they added one more in the fourth to push its lead to 3-0, before ONU erupted in the 6th to claim the 6-3 victory.
Senior Taylor Manahan led Northern at the dish going 2-for-3 in the contest.
ONU and Heidelberg square off at noon on Sunday in a winner takes all championship at Frann's Field located on the campus of Heidelberg University.
