TIGERS SALVAGE A SPLIT AGAINST IU-SOUTH BEND

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Olivet Nazarene University softball team brought home a doubleheader split against the Indiana South Bend Titans Friday evening. After letting their lead slip late in a 7-6 opening loss, the Tigers rallied for a 3-2 win in the nightcap.

Game 1: IU-South Bend 7, Olivet Nazarene 6

Despite hammering out 14 hits and holding a three-run lead in the fifth inning, the Tigers couldn't stave off the Titans (12-21, 5-7 CCAC) in the opener, who came roaring back with four unanswered late runs to take the opener.

Vannah Vaughan broke a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning with an RBI single. In the next at-bat, Margaret Landis cleared the bases with a triple to the gap in left-center to put the Tigers up by three.

IU-South Bend scored a pair of runs in their half of the fifth and eventually tied the game in the bottom of the seventh when they were down to their last two outs.

In extras, The Tigers had a great chance to blow the game wide open with the bases loaded but couldn't get any runs across. This was the tale of the tape, as the Tigers stranded 13 runners on base in the loss. The Titans made quick work of the bottom of the eighth scoring the game-winning with back-to-back hits.

Four Tigers recorded multiple hits in the loss, with Landis and Haley Dobson recording three apiece. Olivia Flinn was credited with the loss in relief.

Game 2: Olivet Nazarene 3, IU-South Bend 2

After only mustering two hits over the first four innings and surrendering an early 2-0 lead, the Tigers took advantage of Titan misplays to get back into the game in the fifth inning.

Allie Timm got things started with a leadoff single, then Kate Landis got aboard with a one-out walk. After Vaughan pushed the duo to second and third with a groundout, a Margaret Landis chopper was misplayed by the Titan first basemen. This allowed Timm and Kate Landis to wheel home and tie the game at 2-2.

Carissa Bombardiere plated the game-winning run in the following frame when she rocked an RBI single to center field that brought home Landes Benedict from second base. Olivia Flinn then took care of business on the mound to lock down the win for ONU.

Megan Mann went a perfect 2-for-2 at the dish. Bombardiere recorded the lone RBI for the Tigers.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Tigers will travel return to Bourbonnais for a conference doubleheader against Calumet Saturday afternoon. The first game is set for 12 p.m. CST.

--ONU—

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