NO. 9 ONU SPLITS SEASON-OPENING SERIES WITH INDIANA TECH
Game 1
Game 1
| Final (11) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Olivet Nazarene | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 2 |
|
Indiana Tech | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 3 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Olivet Nazarene | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 2 |
|
Indiana Tech | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 2 |
FORT WAYNE, IND. – The No. 9 Olivet Nazarene University softball team opened its 2022 campaign on the road at Indiana Tech on Tuesday afternoon. It took 11 innings, but the Warriors took game one, 6-5, while the Tigers bounced back and won game two, 5-3.
Game One: IIT 6, No. 9 ONU 5 F/11
Head Coach Hannah Gardner gave the ball to sophomore Olivia Flinn to start the game for the Tigers. Flinn pitched well in her season debut going five innings and surrendered three runs on six hits and struck out three batters. Kori Fricke then came in and pitched the final five innings of the game and gave up three runs on five hits and fanned six batters.
The Tigers opened the scoring at the top of the second inning as Margaret Landis doubled home Kate Landis, who reached on a single. The Tigers led 1-0. Then, in the third frame, newcomer Zoe Oshiro led off the inning with a home run to right center as ONU took a 2-0 lead. The Warriors got one back as they closed the gap to 2-1 after an RBI single.
The Tigers then opened up the game in the top of the fifth inning. With a pair of runners on, Megan Mann scorched a two-bagger and drove home Alli Timm and Vannah Vaughan. After Kate Landis singled, Mann scored on a passed ball as ONU took a 5-1 lead. IIT then tied the game at five as they scored two runs in the fifth and sixth.
The score remained tied at the end of regulation as the two teams went to extras to settle game one. Neither team can get anything going offensively until the Warriors walked it off with an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th as they won the first game, 6-5.
Game Two: No. 9 ONU 5, IIT 3
The Tigers went with Emily Blucker in game two of the series. Blucker went 4.1 innings in her first outing of the season and surrendered three runs and struck out four. Fricke came in to relieve Blucker with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning and surrendered no runs on five hits and fanned a pair of batters.
The Tigers, like game one, kicked off the scoring. At the top of the first inning, with two outs, Oshiro doubled and Mann singled putting runners at second and third. Timm then hit a two-run double into right and drove home both Oshiro and Mann. The Tigers led 2-0. The Warriors got two back on an RBI double in the bottom of the first and an RBI single in the bottom of the second. The Warriors tied the ballgame at two all.
The Tigers then grabbed the lead back in the top of the third inning. With two runners on, Timm picked up another RBI driving home Oshiro, who reached on a walk. After another walk, Flinn lineout to right field but because of an errant throw, Timm and Mann scored making the score, 5-2.
The Warriors were threatening at the bottom of the fifth as they marked another run on an RBI triple making the score, 5-3. Then, IIT loaded the bases with one out and Fricke, who came to relieve Blucker, forced a Warrior to ground into a fielder's choice and struck out the final batter of the inning. The Tigers still led 5-3 going into the sixth inning.
The Tigers bounced back from a game one loss to down the Warriors, 5-3, in the final game of the day.
GAME VITALS
Finals: Game One: Indiana Tech 6, No. 9 Olivet Nazarene 5 | Game Two: No. 9 Olivet Nazarene 5, Indiana Tech 3
Records: No. 9 Olivet Nazarene: 1-1 | Indiana Tech: 2-4
Location: Warrior Park | Indiana Tech | Fort Wayne, Ind.
QUICK HITS
- Oshiro and Timm led the Tigers with five hits on the day.
- Timm led the Tigers with three RBIs in the two games.
- Oshiro, Timm, Mann, and Margaret Landis all marked doubles.
- Oshiro hit a home run in game one of the day.
- The Tigers drew 13 walks as a team in the two games.
- Fricke led the Tigers with a save and eight strikeouts in two games.
- Blucker recorded the win in game two.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The No. 9 Tigers travel to Tucson, Ariz. for the TIG Spring Games. ONU will start with the Spirit of Ottawa (Ariz.) at 1:30 p.m. and Aquinas College at 5:45 p.m. The game times listed are in Central Time. Please visit onutigers.com for more information and live links.