TIGERS TAKE A SPLIT IN TUCSON INVITATIONAL THURSDAY

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Olivet Nazarene University softball team took a split on the penultimate day of the Tucson Invitational Thursday afternoon played at Lincoln Park. The Tigers opened with a 11-1 setback against No. 12 Midland before rallying back for a 10-2 victory over Park-Gilbert.

The Purple & Yellow Gold failed to get much going in the opener against No. 12 Midland, only mustering three hits and not capitalizing on three Warrior errors. When Midland jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, Margaret Landis was able to cut the lead down to two on an RBI groundout in the third.

This would prove to be the only ONU run, however, and the Warriors would go on to score seven runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to end things early. Zoe Oshiro, Avery Osborn, and Allie Timm were responsible for the three hits. Timm was given the loss as the starting pitcher.

The Tigers turned things around in the rematch win over Park-Gilbert. After falling 6-5 in extra innings to the Buccaneers, ONU put up 10 runs to roll to a big victory.

ONU trailed 2-1 heading into the sixth inning, but Oshiro gave her team the lead with a 2-RBI double that scored Alyssa McCord and Ali Fullingim. The Tigers went on to score seven runs in the seventh to put things out of reach, drawing four bases-loaded walks before Osborn capped the big inning with a 2-RBI double of her own.

Olivia Flinn went the distance as the starter, only allowing one earned run over seven innings to pick up her second win in as many days.

The Tigers will wrap their spring break trip with two final games in the Tucson Invitational with rematches against William Penn and Midland.

--ONU—

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