ONU softball and baseball teams have tuned up for the spring season after a week of play in Florida. Here's a Florida update.
Softball
PLANT CITY, Fla. — Junior catcher/infielder Gabby Stewart (Union, Ky./St. Henry) became the 39th player in Ohio Northern softball history to eclipse the 100 career hit mark Thursday afternoon, leading the Polar Bears in a heartbreaking 10-9 loss to Penn St.-Behrend and a six inning, 14-2 loss to WPI (Mass.) in the 2019 Sunkissed Games.
Stewart paced the Polar Bears offense after finishing five-for-seven on the day, which included a home run, two RBI, and three runs scored. She recorded her 100th career hit with her fourth and final base knock in the opening contest against PSB.
The Union, Kentucky native went on to collect one more hit in the nightcap, giving her 101 career hits to rank 38th all-time in program history.
PLANT CITY, Fla. — The team upended area-rival Bluffton 11-2 and Simmons (Mass.) 10-2 in two five-inning affairs Friday afternoon during the 2019 Sunkissed Games.
Both games ended in five innings due to the NCAA's eight-run rule.
With the victories, the Polar Bears improve to 4-4 overall this season. Meanwhile, the Beavers and the Sharks each fell to 2-8 overall in 2019.
Freshman pitcher Madison Anderson (Akron/Ellet) proved to be a force in the ring during her second career start against Bluffton. The Akron product improved to 2-0 this season after conceding just three hits, striking out two, and allowing no earned runs over the five-inning contest.
PLANT CITY & TITUSVILLE, Fla. — Senior infielder Hailee Loughman smashed a critical three-run home run and pitcher Kaitlin Surdej (Lancaster, N.Y./Central) surrendered just two earned runs in the ring, leading Ohio Northern to a victory over No. 20-ranked St. Benedict (Minn.) before falling to WPI (Mass.) 5-1 on the final day of the 2019 Sunkissed Games.
With Saturday's results, the Polar Bears move to 5-5 overall this season. Meanwhile, St. Benedict drops to 9-4 overall, and WPI rises to 7-5 overall in 2019.
Baseball
AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Senior designated hitter/infielder Caleb Thomas (Strongsville) supplied a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday afternoon, lifting the Ohio Northern baseball program to an 11-10 victory over nonconference foe Salve Regina (R.I.) at the Lake Myrtle #7 Complex during the 2019 RussMatt Invitational. The Seahawks drop to 1-2 overall in 2019.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The team recorded a two-game series sweep over Pitt.-Greensburg Saturday afternoon, defeating the Bobcats 5-1 and 12-2 in a pair of seven-inning contests.
With the victories, the Polar Bears improve to 6-2 overall this season. Meanwhile, the Bobcats fall to 0-6 in the 2019 campaign.
In game one, junior right-handed hurler Nate Bye (Thorntown, Ind./Western Boone) tossed a one-hitter for his first win this season. He allowed just one unearned run to cross the plate, issued only two walks, and struck out nine batsmen during the nonconference affair.
