NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Senior Kirsten Lightel (Tallmadge) threw a 6-hit shutout to lead the Ohio Northern softball team to a 1-0 victory over Case Western Reserve in the first game of the NCAA III Softball Notre Dame, Indiana Regional Tournament on a chilly Friday afternoon at the Purcell Athletic Fields.

The Polar Bears (31-9 overall) advance in the winner's bracket on Saturday at 11 am and will face No. 19-ranked Saint Mary's (Ind.), who defeated Mount Aloysius (Pa.) 6-1 in Friday's second game.