Softball team opens 2019 season with losses to Saint John Fisher (N.Y.), Aurora (Ill.)
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. John Fisher (N.Y.) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| Ohio Northern | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| BOT 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio Northern | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Aurora (Ill.) | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | X | 8 | 10 | 0 |
Team Stats
St. John Fisher (N.Y.)
Ohio Northern
Aurora (Ill.)
By Tim Glon
PLANT CITY, Fla. — The Ohio Northern softball team opened its 2019 season with a tight 3-2 loss to Saint John Fisher (N.Y.) and an 8-0 loss to Aurora (Ill.) on Sunday as part of the Sunkissed Games.
The Polar Bears (0-2 overall) got a pair of hits and a solid pitching performance from senior Kaitlin Surdej (Lancaster, N.Y./Central) in the victory over SJFC.
The Cardinals (1-0), who received votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason poll, got the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth inning on a 2-out RBI single from Abby Flakus.
Northern took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when junior Gabby Stewart (Union, Ky./St. Henry) singled home junior Alicia Swierz (Deerfield/Southeast) and later scored on a single by junior Brady Guest (Convoy/Crestview).
SJFC tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the second with back-to-back RBI doubles.
Surdej finished the day 2-for-3 and allowed eight hits while striking out 5 in the circle.
Aurora (1-1) scored four times in the bottom of the first, once in the third and three more times in the fourth to win in five innings due to the NCAA's 8-run rule.
AU out-hit ONU 10-3.
The Polar Bears will return to action in the Sunkissed Games on Monday with a 10 am game with Saint Joseph's (Maine) and a 12:15 pm contest against Randolph (Va.)