NO. 9 ONU SPLITS DAY ONE AT THE TIG SPRING GAMES

TUCSON, Ariz. – The No. 9 Olivet Nazarene University softball team opened play at the TIG Spring Games on Saturday.  The Tigers defeated the Spirit of Ottawa University (Ariz.) and fell at the hands of RV Aquinas College, 7-2. 

Game One: No. 9 ONU 7, OUAZ 3

The Tigers struck first in the second inning on an RBI single by Kate Landis.  Landis drove in Megan Mann who singled to lead off the inning.  The Spirit got the run back in the bottom of the frame on a sacrifice fly.  The Tigers retook the lead in the third inning.  With two outs, Faith Mikos reached on an error and Zoe Oshiro doubled to center field and drove in Mikos. 

The game was still 2-1 until the op of the fifth where ONU stuck for another un.  With a pair of runners on, Mann drove in Haley Dobson with a single and made the score, 3-1.  After a scoreless sixth inning, the Tigers opened the game up.  Mann kept up her excellent day at the plate and scored Mikos on a single.  After a strikeout, Oshiro scored on a fielding error by the Spirit.  Then, Kate Landis dumped a single into left field and scored Mann.  The Tigers concluded their scoring in the inning when Fricke scored on a double steal.  The Tigers extended their lead to 7-1. 

Ottawa scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh but it proved too little too late as the Tigers defeated the Spirit, 7-3.  Emily Blucker went the first three innings while Kori Fricke worked the final four innings of the game.  Blucker secured her first win of the season. 

Game Two: RV AQ 7, No. 9 ONU 2

The Saints opened the scoring in the top of the third inning when they scored on a wild pitch.  The Tigers took the lead in the bottom half of the frame.  With one out, Dobson homered to left center.  Then after two outs, Oshiro kept up her impressive start to the season with a triple to right.  Mann then platted Oshiro with a single to right.  The Tigers led 2-1. 

The Tigers held the lead until the fifth inning when Aquinas retook the lead on a three-run homer making the score, 4-2.  The Saints then added two runs in the sixth and a run in the seventh to win the game, 7-2.  Olivia Flinn started the game and went four innings and surrendered five hits on three runs and struck out six batters.  Fricke came in to finish the final three innings of the game. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The No. 9 Tigers are back on the diamond on Monday, March 7^th as they play University of Jamestown at 11 a.m. and Presentation University at 1:15 p.m. in the TIG Spring Games.  All times listed are in Central Time. 

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu