ONU STAYS PERFECT IN THE CCAC WITH A DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP OVER RV SAINT AMBROSE

DAVENPORT, Iowa. – The Olivet Nazarene University softball opened its Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) road schedule with a trip to RV Saint Ambrose on Saturday afternoon.  The Tigers shut out the Fighting Bees, 10-0, in the first game, while edging the Figthing Bees in game two, 3-1. 

Game One: ONU 10, RV SAU 0

The Tigers turned to Kori Fricke for the start in game one.  The Tiger right-handed worked five shutout innings and only surrendered four hits and picked up a strikeout.  Fricke won her sixth game of the season. 

The Tigers got off to a hot start in the top of the first inning.  With two outs and the bases loaded, Fricke ripped a bases-clearing double and made the score, 3-0.  Later in the inning, Faith Mikos platted Fricke on an RBI single.  The Tigers jumped out in front, 4-0.  ONU added to its lead in the second inning. Margaret Landis led off the inning with a walked and then later came around to score on a wild pitch.  Matti Lanie then singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  With Lanie on second, Zoe Oshiro dropped in a single and scored Lanie to make the score, 6-0.  The Tigers pounded out six hits in the first two innings of play. 

The ONU added a pair of runs in the third inning.  After the Tigers loaded the bases to open the frame, Oshiro reached on a fielder's choice and Kailyn Ngo scored. Later in the inning, Megan Mann skied a ball to deep right field and drove-in Lanie.  ONU pulled ahead, 8-0. The Tigers scored another pair of runs in the fifth inning.  The Tigers took advantage of a couple of Fighting Bee errors in the inning as Margaret Landis came around to score on an error by the third baseman.  Then, with one out, Haley Dobson chopped a ball to third and platted Lanie and moved the score to 10-0. 

The Tigers drew seven walks and Fricke retired the Fighting Bees in the fifth as the Tigers win the first game, 10-0.  The Tigers picked up their second shutout of the season.

Game Two: ONU 3, RV SAU 1

Head Coach Hannah Gardner sent out Emily Blucker to the circle for game two of the doubleheader.  The Tiger right-handed went the distance and surrendered one run, on nine hits, and struck out 10 batters.  Blucker earned her sixth win of the season and her fourth this week. 

This game proved to be a pitcher's duel throughout as the two teams combined for only four runs.  The Tigers cracked the scoring column in the second inning.  With two outs, Fricke and Mikos hit back-to-back singles.  Ngo then reached first on a dropped-third-strike to load the bases.  Margaret Landis then broke through with an RBI single making the score, 1-0. The Fighting Bees scored the equalizing run in the bottom of the third on an RBI single.   The Tigers retook the lead in the fourth inning when Lanie doubled home Mikos, making the score, 2-1. 

The Tigers picked up a key insurance run in the top of the seventh inning as ONU picked up the 3-1 win over Saint Ambrose in game two. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Tigers welcome the Trojans of Trinity International University to Tiger Field on Monday, April 11th.  The first pitch of game one is scheduled for 3 p.m.

--ONU—

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