VAUGHAN KNOCKS A WALK-OFF TO OPEN TUCSON INVITATIONAL
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Olivet Nazarene (IL) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
|
Northwestern | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Simpson (CA) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
|
Olivet Nazarene (IL) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
TUCSON, Ariz. – Vannah Vaughan was the hero in the Olivet Nazarene University softball team's first game of the Tucson Invitational Monday morning at Lincoln Park. The senior outfielder's walk-off single secured the team's 4-3 victory over Simpson (Calif.) in Monday's opener. The Tigers suffered an 8-0 defeat in the nightcap to Northwestern (Iowa), the No. 14 team in the NAIA's Coaches' Top-25 Poll.
After the Redhawks (6-12) tied the game in the top of the fifth at 3-3, neither team could take an advantage heading into the final inning. That was when Margaret Landis opened the bottom of the seventh with a lead-off single. She was promptly moved over to second Avery Osborn's sacrifice bunt and scampered to third on a wild pitch.
With two outs and the winning run 60 feet from home plate, Vaughan delivered a single to third base that brought home Landis and secured the victory for ONU, the team's second of the season.
Zoe Oshiro plated two RBIs with a triple in the Tigers' three-run third inning and drew a pair of walks to lead the offense. Osborn was responsible for the other run with a sacrifice fly in the big inning. Mallory O'Connor, Kahiwa Ili, Gwen Bender, and Landis all recorded a hit in the win.
Allie Timm was credited with the win in relief, pitching the final 3.2 innings with no earned runs and four strikeouts. Olivia Flinn went 3.1 as the starter, only allowing two earned runs and striking out four herself.
The Tigers failed to muster the same offense in the nightcap against the No. 14 Raiders, getting left off the scoreboard with only four hits. Northwestern pumped out seven runs over the first four frames and added another in the sixth inning to end the game early.
The Purple & Yellow Gold's best chance to score came in the top of the fifth when Ili drew a lead-off walk and Osborn followed her up with a single. Flinn dropped a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position, but two quick outs followed to stifle any potential rally.
O'Connor was the only Tiger to record multiple hits, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Oshiro and Osborn each added a hit. Timm was given the loss as the starter.
The Tigers will continue their Arizona trip with games Tuesday against William Penn and Park-Gilbert.
--ONU—
*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu