MARIETTA — The Ohio Northern softball team punched its ticket to the 2018 Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament and clinched at least a top-3 seed in the tournament as it swept Marietta 8-0, 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at Marietta Field.
With a twinbill with Muskingum as the only remaining contests in the conference schedule, the Polar Bears (26-6 overall, 12-4 OAC) are one game back from Otterbein and the top seed and hold a 1-game lead over Heidelberg for the No. 2 seed in the tournament.
Marietta (15-15, 7-7) moved into a tie for fifth place in the OAC standings.
ADA — The Ohio Northern men's lacrosse team was edged by John Carroll 9-7 in a battle of league leaders on Saturday afternoon at Dial-Roberson Stadium.
The Polar Bears fall to 12-2 overall and are now in a three-way tie with John Carroll and Otterbein atop the Ohio Athletic Conference standings with 5-1 league marks.
JCU improves to 9-4 overall.
Junior Max Weese (Columbus/Hilliard Darby) had two goals and an assist to lead the ONU offense.
DEFIANCE — Senior Zach Goodchild (Pickerington/North) tied a school record with a 3-under par 67 to lead the Ohio Northern men's golf team in the first round of the Defiance Spring Invitational on Saturday at Eagle Rock Golf Course.
The Polar Bears (17-40 overall) are tied with Earlham (Ind.) with 300s after the first round of the 36-hole tournament. Mount Saint Joseph leads the team standings with a 286, Transylvania (Ky.) is second with a 295 and Hanover (Ind.) is third with a 297.
ADA — The No. 11-ranked Ohio Northern women's outdoor track and field team recorded first place finishes in nine events as it cruised to a first place finish in the 2018 Polar Bear Invitational at Kerscher Stadium.
The Polar Bears will be back home a return to action next Friday and Saturday as they host the 2018 Outdoor Ohio Athletic Conference Championships.
On Saturday, the Polar Bears (39-7 overall) finished first of six teams with 188 points.
Lima Liberty Arts Magnet Steel Drum Band (pictured) performed Saturday night in Presser Hall. It was one of four steel drum bands that gave high-energy performances to conclude the third annual Steel Drum Day organized by Dr. Sarah Waters, ONU music professor.
During the concert, Franklinton Preparatory Academy Steel Band, the Wild Steelions, and ONU Steel Drum Band also played, knocking out a combination of calypso, reggae, Afro-Cuban, and rock and roll steel band music.
