The Ohio Northern softball team will look to continue its recent success in 2017 under first-year head coach Jackie Mangola.

The Polar Bears are coming off of their ninth top-3 finish in the Ohio Athletic Conference standings in the last 10 seasons.

Northern posted a 24-19 record a season ago and finished second in the OAC standings with an 11-7 record.

"Our team has a great mix of returners and freshmen," said head coach Jackie Mangola. "The girls have really bought in to what we want to accomplish and I think we have a really good shot at playing at a very high level this season."

Schedule

Northern will open its schedule with a 12-game swing in Florida as they compete in the Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. on Mar 5-11. 

The Polar Bears will then open the northern portion of their schedule with a double header at Anderson (Ind.) on Mar. 23 before opening Ohio Athletic Conference play and the home schedule with a double header against Marietta at the ONU Softball Field on Mar. 25.

Other non-conference matchups for Northern features double headers at Bluffton on Mar. 28, and No. 20-ranked Trine (Ind.) on Mar. 29.

Northern will host non-conference foes Transylvania (Ky.) and Wooster on Apr. 2 and Apr. 24 in double header action at the ONU Softball Field.

The home schedule with feature home double headers against John Carroll on Apr. 1, Wilmington on Apr. 11, Baldwin Wallace on Apr. 22, and Heidelberg on Apr. 22.

ONU will travel to Otterbein on Apr. 5, Mount Union on Apr. 8, Muskingum on Apr. 14, and Capital on Apr. 29 in conference double header action on the road.

The OAC Tournament is slated to be played May 5-6 on the campus of the Regular Season Champion.

"I'm excited for the season to start and see who steps up this year," said Mangola. "If our freshmen and returners all step up into some different roles this year we will be able to compete at a very high level. Florida will be tough as we play some good teams, but as long as we take care of ourselves we'll be successful."