Ohio Northern 3, Ohio Wesleyan 1
Ohio Northern 11, Ohio Wesleyan 3

April 29, 2008

Freshman outfielder Tara VanVranken (North Canton/Massillon Jackson) singled and scored to give Ohio Wesleyan a 1-0 lead, but Ohio Northern got a pair of home runs to post a win in the opener of a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday in Ada.

In the nightcap, sophomore first baseman Catrice Mayweather (Lewis Center/Olentangy) homered to tie school and conference records, but the Polar Bears erupted for 9 runs in the bottom of the first inning and went on to complete the sweep.

Neither sophomore lefthander Rachel Seibel (Johnstown/Johnstown-Monroe) nor Ohio Northern's Katie Keslar allowed a runner to reach second base during the first 3 innings of the opener.

That changed in the fourth, when VanVranken led off with a single. Senior catcher Miranda Simmons (Norwalk) followed with a grounder to third, but Polar Bear third baseman Cortney Cash's throw was mishandled by second baseman Lisa Goltry, with VanVranken ending up at third on the play. Simmons moved to second on an infield out by Mayweather, with VanVranken holding at third, and sophomore third baseman Rita Cook (Sidney/Fairlawn) grounded to Cash, who threw wildly to the plate trying to get VanVranken, who scored for a 1-0 Bishop lead.

Matt McFarlin led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run to right center, tying the game at 1-1, and the Polar Bears took the lead in the fifth, when Tina Mangola lined a 2-out double and Liz Decima followed with a homer to right center for a 3-1 Ohio Northern lead.

Seibel pitched the complete game for Ohio Wesleyan, allowing 7 hits while striking out 7 and walking none.

Keslar finished with a 2-hitter. She did not strike out or walk a Bishop batter.

In the nightcap, the Bishops again took a 1-0 lead. Sophomore second baseman Emily Bradley (Columbus/Upper Arlington) led off the first with a walk. One out later, VanVranken singled, sending Bradley to third, and Simmons plated the run with an infield grounder.

The Polar Bears answered with 9 runs in the bottom of the inning, with McFarlin hitting a 2-run homer, Katie Salay contributing a 2-run single and Mangola hitting a 3-run homer to highlight the frame.

Mayweather smashed a solo homer to lead off the Bishop fourth. The circuit clout was her ninth of the season, tying the school and conference records of Sarah Downs in 2006.

Sophomore shortstop Amanda Sanders (Lima/Bath) singled in a run in the fifth to make it a 10-3 game, but Ohio Northern pushed across a run in the bottom of the fifth to end the game.

Mayweather pitched the complete game for Ohio Wesleyan, striking out 2 and walking 4.

Keslar started in the circle for Ohio Northern, and Stephanie Inkrott came on in the third to collect the win.

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2