SOFTBALL CONCLUDES 2022 SEASON AT THE OPENING ROUND OF THE 2022 NAIA SOFTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

MARION, Ind. – The Olivet Nazarene University softball team competed in the second day of the Opening Round of the 2022 NAIA Softball National Championship on Tuesday.  The Tigers saw a late comeback as they defeated the No. 12 Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson College, 11-7, and saw their season come to an end falling to the RV Midland University Warriors, 6-2. 

Game One: Olivet Nazarene 11, No. 12 Lindsey Wilson

The Tigers looked to Kori Fricke to start the game.  The Tiger right-handed starter went 1.1 innings and surrendered five runs on four hits and struck out a batter. Emily Blucker worked the remaining 5.2 frames and surrendered two runs on three hits and fanned four batters.  Blucker earned her 10th win of the season in the circle. 

The Tigers knocked on the door to start the game.  Matti Lanie led off the game with a walk.  She eventually advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Zoe Oshiro and reached third on a wild pitch.  Megan Mann then split the gap and doubled home Lanie to make the score, 1-0.  The Blue Raiders added a run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single.  The Tigers then retook the lead in the top of the second.  Fricke led off the inning on a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Fricke eventually scored on an error by the pitcher, making the score, 2-1.  The Blue Raiders then scored six runs combined in the second and third inning and made the score, 7-2. 

The Tigers closed the gap in the top of the fourth.  The Tigers marked their first run of the inning when Faith Mikos scored on an error by the third basemen.  ONU then saw Oshiro plate a pair on a two-run double to make the score, 7-5. Later in the inning, the Tigers tied the game at seven after Oshiro crossed home plate on a wild pitch and Kate Landis singled home Dobson. ONU took the lead in the top of the fifth inning.  After the Tigers loaded the bases on two walks and an error, Mann powered out a grand slam to left-center field.  That big-fly made the score, 11-7, Tigers. 

The Tigers used timely hitting and solid pitching down the stretch as they survived elimination and defeated the Blue Raiders, 11-7.

Game Two: RV Midland 6, Olivet Nazarene 2

Head coach Hannah Gardner went back to Fricke to start the second elimination game for the Tigers.  Fricke worked an inning and gave up three runs on one hit.  Blucker ended up coming into the game in the second inning and worked five innings and allowed three runs on six hits and struck out three batters.   

The Tigers struck first in the game.  In the top of the second inning with two outs, Oshiro singled home Olivia Flinn, who reached on a walk.  ONU led 1-0.  The Warriors then scored three in the bottom of the inning on three wild pitches.  Midland led, 3-1.  In the bottom of the fourth, the Warriors extended their lead on a solo homer making the score, 4-1.   

The Warriors added two runs in the bottom of the sixth to make the score, 6-1.   The Tigers scored a run in the top of the seventh inning when Kailyn Ngo reached on a fielder's choice.  That proved to be too little too late as the Warriors took down the Tigers, 6-2. 

The Tigers finished their season with a 34-15-1 record and went 18-4 in the CCAC.  Congratulations to the Tigers on a great season and we wish the seniors good luck on their future endeavors.    

--ONU—

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