NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – The (RV) Ottawa University softball team swept Bethel College on Saturday afternoon. Ottawa won game one in six innings, 12-2 and took game two in five innings, 8-0. With Oklahoma Wesleyan University's two losses on Saturday to Kansas Wesleyan University, the Braves have moved into first place in the KCAC.
Game One
Ottawa struck first, taking the early lead in the top of the first inning.
Riley Newbold walked to lead off the game for the Braves. She then stole second, giving OU a runner in scoring position.
Allison Kearney singled, moving Newbold 60 feet from home.
Madison Bunfill put the ball in play, reaching first on a fielder's choice. Newbold scored and Ottawa had a 1-0 lead.
Ottawa pushed two more runs across home plate in the top of the second.
Kelcie Kippes doubled.
Jillian Kygar singled to right, moving Kippes to third. An error by the right fielder scored Kippes to give the Braves a 2-0 lead.
Justyse Rodriguez's RBI single scored
Aliks Serna and OU had a 3-0 lead.
The Braves kept the pressure on the Bethel defense, scoring two more runs in the bottom of the third.
Hannah Copeland singled to left. Kygar's single to right moved Copeland to third. Serna hit a double to left, scoring both Copeland and Kygar to give the Braves a 5-0 lead.
OU scored three more runs in the top of the fourth to increase its lead to 8-0 over the Threshers. Rodriguez led off OU with a double to right-center. Kearney reached first on an error by the BC shortstop. Rodriguez took advantage of the Thresher miscue and scored to push the OU lead to 6-0.
Madison Bunfill followed that with her seventh home run of the season, scoring Kearney to give the Braves an 8-0 lead.
Bethel extended the game in the bottom of the fifth, scoring one run to get within 8-1 of the Braves. Ottawa put the game away in the sixth. Kearney walked and moved to second on a ground out by Bunfill. Copeland singled to left, scoring Kearney and OU had a 9-1 lead. Ottawa loaded the bases after Serna was hit by a pitch.
Cierra Faubion reached first on an error by the Bethel first baseman. Both Kygar and Copeland scored to give the Braves an 11-1 lead. Newbold walk and the bases were loaded once more. Rodriguez followed that walk with one of her own, scoring Serna to give the Braves a 12-1 lead.
Bethel scored one run in the bottom of the sixth to cut into OU's lead but it was too little, too late as OU took the 12-2 victory.
Inside the Box Score
Game Two
Ottawa jumped out to the early lead in top of the first inning.
Riley Newbold reached first on an error and then moved to second on that Bethel miscue.
Justyse Rodriguez walked, giving OU two runners on with no outs.
Allison Kearney scored both with a home run to left-center and OU led 3-0.
After a scoreless second, Ottawa scored three more runs in the top of the third. An error by the Bethel right fielder put Kearney on second. Bunfill's fly out to left moved Kearney 60 feet from home.
Hannah Copeland singled up the middle, scoring Kearney to give OU a 4-0 lead. Ottawa scored two more runs in the inning on
Jillian Kygar first home run of the season, scoring Copeland and OU lead 6-0.
In the top of the fifth, the Braves were able to score the necessary runs to activate the eight after five run rule. Kearney led OU off with a double to left. She then swiped third. Copeland reached base on an error by the BC shortstop and Kearney scored to give OU a 7-0 lead.
A Kippes single moved
Macey Morris, who was pinch running for Copeland, to second. Kygar doubled to left, scoring Morris and OU had an 8-0 lead.
Aliks Serna increased the OU lead to 9-0 with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring KIppes. Ottawa scored one more run in the inning on an error by the Bethel right fielder. Her miscue scored one and OU had a 10-0 lead. Bethel was not able to extend the game in the bottom of the fifth and OU took the 10-0 victory.
Inside the Box Score
Who is Next
Ottawa (28-11-1, 18-4) hosts Tabor College on Tuesday, April 26 in its final home double header of the regular season at Alumni Park. Game one is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
