HILLSBORO, Kan. – The (19) Ottawa University softball team opened KCAC play with a sweep of Tabor College on Tuesday afternoon. Ottawa took game one, 9-4, and game two, 8-6. It is the sixth year in a row that OU has opened conference play 2-0.
Game One
The Braves struck first, taking the lead in the top of the first inning.
Riley Newbold led the game off with a single up the middle.
Katie Enneking followed that single with one of her own and Newbold made her way to third.
Allison Kearney scored Newbold with single and the Braves had a 1-0 lead.
Emma Melvin then walked and OU had the bases loaded.
Nayely Delgado doubled, scoring both Enneking and Karney to give the Braves a 3-0 lead.
Tabor cut into the Brave lead with two runs in the bottom of the third inning, 3-2. Ottawa earned those runs back in the top of the fourth.
Macey Morris reached first on an error by the Tabor centerfielder. Newbold reached first on another error by the Bluejays. Morris took advantage of the miscue, scoring to give OU a 4-2 lead. Kearney gave OU a 5-2 lead with a single, scoring Newbold.
In the top of the seventh, the Braves put a couple more insurance runs on the board.
Madison Bunfill singled to lead off the Braves. She then stole second, giving OU a runner in scoring position.
Emma Melvin singled to right, scoring Bunfill and OU had a 6-2 lead.
Aliks Serna single to left and scored
Hallie Robison, who came in as a pinch runner for Melvin, to increase the Ottawa lead to 7-2. Ottawa scored its final two runs of the inning on a double by Newbold and OU had a 9-2 lead.
Tabor tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh. The Bluejays scored two runs on a home run from Mary Yandell to cut into the Brave lead, 9-4. That was all the closer Tabor would get as
Ashlynn Mercer got the ground out to end the game, giving OU the 9-4 victory.
Inside the Box Score
Game Two
Ottawa took the lead in the top of the first inning.
Katie Enneking reached first due to catcher's interference. A ground out to second by
Allison Kearney moved Enneking to second. Enneking then took advantage of a Bluejay miscue.
Madison Bunfill hit the ball to the Tabor second baseman, she committed an error and Enneking was able to score, giving OU a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the third, the Braves added to its lead.
Macey Morris led off the inning with a walk and then stole second. Enneking's double to right-center moved Morris to third. Kearney scored both Morris and Enneking with a sacrifice fly to right and OU had a 3-0 lead. The Braves pushed one more run across home plate with a home run by Bunfill and Ottawa led 4-0.
Ottawa increased its lead in the top of the fourth with four runs. Kelcie KIppes hit a home run, giving the Braves a 5-0 lead.
Cierra Faubion doubled to center and Morris was hit by a pitch, giving OU runners on first and second. Enneking's walk loaded the bases and brought Kearney to the plate. She came through with runners in scoring position, clearing the bases with a double to left and Ottawa led 8-0.
Tabor tried to rally. The Bluejays scored three in the bottom of the fifth to extend the game, cutting OU's lead to 8-3. Tabor then scored three more in the bottom of the seventh and was within 8-6.
Ashlynn Mercer entered the game with the bases loaded and no outs. She got a pop out, a strike out, and a fly out to get the save and the win for the Braves, 8-6.
Inside the Box Score
- The Braves had seven hits in the game by seven different players.
- Allison Kearney led OU with five RBI.
- Kelcie KIppes and Madison Bunfill each had a home run.
- Kippes pitched six innings, striking out four.
Who is Next
Ottawa (17-4, 2-0) will now host Bethel College on Saturday, March 18 at Alumni Park. Game one of the double header is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
