V-Hawks Finish Tucson Invitational

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Viterbo University Softball team finished their trip to Arizona with three losses, falling to Simpson University (Calif.), 13-14, then dropping a double-header to Olivet Nazarene, 1-6 and 4-14.

Following a high-scoring affair with Simpson, Viterbo and Olivet's first game would start as a defensive battle, with only one hit over the first three innings. Viterbo took the first lead as Chelsie Paulsen scored on a passed ball, but the Tigers had a huge fourth inning, recording six runs on eight hits and a V-Hawk error. The scoring halted there, as while Megan Jardine and Haleigh Zanoni recorded hits, no one reached home for Viterbo.

Morgan James was the other V-Hawk with a hit, while Zoe Oshiro led Olivet Nazarene, going 3-for-4 with an RBI.

ONU started the second game with a monster first inning, recording six runs on five hits. Marissa Carter-Olson's RBI brought in Jardine in the bottom of the inning to get Viterbo on the board as well. However, the Tigers would extend their lead in the second with four more runs, and again with one in the third. Jardine would score on a wild pitch in the bottom of the third, and Sydney Haakenson brought home Courtney Denton in the fourth. Two more hits and errors in the top of the fifth led to three more ONU runs. Jardine's RBI in the bottom of the fifth scored Amanda Bogdonovich, but it would not be enough to rally.

Jardine led Viterbo with a pair of hits, and Mallory O'Connor went 3-of-3 for ONU. Emily Roberts (L, 0-2) recorded the loss, while Olivia Flinn (W, 1-5) earned her first win.

Viterbo returns to action with their home conference opener against Dickinson State on Friday, March 15.