ONU GOES TOE-TO-TOE WITH NO. 17 NORTHWESTERN, SWEEPS DWU IN TUCSON INVITATIONAL

TUCSON, Ariz. – Playing in their sixth, seventh, and eighth games in three days, the Olivet Nazarene University softball team continued to stay hot with two more wins in the Tucson Invitational. After being unable to hold off No. 17 Northwestern, the Tigers swept Dakota Wesleyan in a doubleheader to close out the day.

Game One: No. 17 Northwestern (Iowa) 3, Olivet Nazarene 2

The Tigers went toe-to-toe with the No. 17-ranked team in the country in Northwestern (Iowa) for the first game of the day. After the Raiders scored the opening run in the top half of the first, ONU responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the first. Allie Timm sent a grounder to second base that plated Kate Landis to tie it up.

In the next inning, Carissa Bombardiere sent out a leadoff single and then promptly stole second base. Faith Mikos sent her home with an RBI single to give the Tigers a one-run advantage.

The Raiders tied things back up in the third and then played small ball in the sixth inning to score the go-ahead run. Northwestern would hold on for the win 3-2.

Allie Timm went five innings as the starter, only surrendering one earned run on six hits. Mikos was the biggest threat at the plate, going 2-for-2 with an RBI and drawing two walks.

Game Two: Olivet Nazarene 5, Dakota Wesleyan 2

The ONU Tigers strung together three-straight hits to open up the game. Kate Landis lifted one to center, Mallory O'Connor singled sharply to shortstop, and Allie Timme sent out an RBI single to center field that had ONU up 1-0 early.

Dakota Wesleyan had the answer in their half of the first, but Haley Dobson got the Tigers back in front with an RBI double that plated O'Connor. However, Dakota Wesleyan had the answer again in the fourth inning.

The game remained tied heading into the final inning, but that was when ONU put up a three-spot to put things away. Avery Osborn put the finishing touches on the game with an RBI single.

Kori Fricke went four innings as the starter, only allowing one earned run and scattering five hits and striking out three. Emily Blucker pitched three scoreless innings in relief, striking out three and surrendering two hits. Blucker was credited with the win.

Game Three: Olivet Nazarene 5, Dakota Wesleyan 3

The Tigers fired up the offense in the first inning when Allie Timm sent out a 2-RBI single on the first pitch of her at-bat.

Dakota Wesleyan knotted the game up at two in the top of the second with a 2-RBI hit of their own, but the Tigers pulled away for good with two more runs in the third inning. With a 2-1 count, Haley Dobson roped a double to center field to put the Tigers back in front, while an Avery Osborn sac fly allowed the speedy Dobson to race home.

A Dakota Wesleyan homer cut the lead to one, but Osborn tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to put things out of reach. Eight Tigers recorded a hit in the win. Osborn led the team with two hits. Timm recorded a game-high two RBIs.

Olivia Flinn went the distance as the starter, allowing three earned runs and scattering six hits. She struck out three along the way in the winning effort.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Tigers will continue in the Tucson Invitational with a pair of games in day four, starting with a bout against York (Neb.) at 9 a.m. MST followed by a date with the No. 2 Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats at 11 a.m. MST.

--ONU—

*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu