Softball splits double header with No. 4-ranked Trine (Ind.)

By Caleb Scott

ANGOLA, Ind. — The Ohio Northern softball team handed No. 4-ranked Trine (Ind.) its first loss of the season as it split a double header with the Thunder on Wednesday afternoon in Angola, Ind.

The Polar Bears move to 16-4, while the Thunder move to 19-1.

In game one freshmen Gabby Stewart (Union, Ky./St. Henry) and Alicia Swierz (Deerfield/Southeast) each recorded hits to lead ONU offensively.

Sophomore Kaitlin Surdej (Lancaster/Central) (7-3 overall) struck out seven batters in the circle for the Polar Bears and only allowed four hits.

In the first contest, Trine took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third to get on the board first.

After Northern threatened on multiple occasions, the Thunder added their second run on the game in the bottom of the sixth to seal the victory.

The Polar Bears wasted no time in game two to get on the board as they posted a 3-run first inning.

With Swierz and junior Anna Martin (Huntsburg/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) on base, Martin was able to score on a wild pitch, while Swierz advanced to second base. 

From there, junior Gia Saturday (Ashtabula/Edgewood) hit a 2-RBI single to center field to plate Swierz and sophomore Hailee Loughman (Brookville) to give Northern a quick 3-0 lead.

With juniors Miranda Huddle (Versailles) and Jenna Hollar (Lima/Bath) on base, Swierz would hit an RBI single in the top of the second inning to extend Northern's lead to 4-0.

Trine was able to get one back in the bottom of the second inning to close the gap to 4-1.

In the top of the fourth inning, Loughman helped Northern widen its lead as she hit an RBI single to right field and plated Martin to give ONU a 5-1 lead.

The Polar Bears continued to add to their lead in the top of the fifth inning as junior pitcher Kirsten Lightel (Tallmadge) was able to score on an error by the second baseman and push the lead to 6-1.

After a single by Hollar and a stolen base, the junior was able to score on a throwing error by the pitcher in the top of the sixth to add an insurance run and push the lead to 7-1.

The Thunder would rally with a 5-run ninth inning but fell short of late as ONU went on to win 7-6.

Lightel earned the victory and improved her record to 9-1 on the mound for ONU as she went seven innings and fanned five batters.

Northern will return to action Saturday as they host Ohio Athletic Conference-foe John Carroll at the ONU Softball Field for a twinbill at 1 pm.