BIG INNINGS LEAD TO DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP OF VITERBO
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Olivet Nazarene (IL) | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 13 | 3 |
|
Viterbo | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Viterbo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
|
Olivet Nazarene (IL) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | X | 6 | 10 | 1 |
TUCSON, Ariz. – A pair of big innings in each game led to the Olivet Nazarene University softball team pulling off a non-conference doubleheader sweep of Viterbo in the Tucson Invitational Wednesday afternoon at Lincoln Park.
The Tigers jumped the V-Hawks for a six-run inning to pick up the 6-1 win in the opener before scoring six and four in the first and second innings, respectively, to end things early in a 14-4 nightcap victory.
All of the runs in the first game were scored in the fourth inning, with Viterbo (3-14) breaking a scoreless tie on a passed ball to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the inning. But the bats came to life in ONU's half of the fourth. Zoe Oshiro kicked things off with a lead-off single before Mallory O'Connor blasted her first home run of the season to give the Tigers a 2-1 advantage.
From there the floodgates opened. Kahiwa Ili plated two more with a 2-RBI double before Allie Timm brought her home on an RBI single in the next at-bat. Zoe Oshiro capped the scoring with a bases-loaded RBI knock that gave the Tigers a 6-1 lead, which would hold to give ONU the win.
Allie Timm went the distance as the starter, going seven innings with no earned runs and striking out five V-Hawks en route to her third win of the season.
The hot offense rolled over into the second game of the doubleheader, with the Tigers pouncing for six runs in the top of the first to take control. O'Connor again opened the ONU scoring with a 2-RBI single before Gwen Bender, Ali Fullingim, and Carissa Bombardiere all plated a run to stake the Tigers to a big advantage.
The Tigers added four more runs in the second off RBIs from Avery Osborn, Ili, and Meegan Randall and three more in the fifth to end the game early via mercy rule. All nine starters recorded a hit in the big win. O'Connor (3), Bender (3), Fullingim (2), and Osborn (2) led the offense with multiple RBIs.
Olivia Flinn picked up her first win of the season as the starter, going 3.2 innings and only allowing one earned run. Kara Majeski saw her first action in relief.
The doubleheader sweep improves the Tigers to .500 on the trip at 3-3. They will look to stay hot with a pair of games Thursday against Midland and Park-Gilbert.
--ONU—
*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu