STERLING, Kan. – The Ottawa University softball team captured its seventh KCAC Championships with a sweep of Sterling College on Thursday night. OU won game one, 7-1, and took game two, 9-2. The championship is the Braves third straight. It is the first time in program history that OU has won three straight conference championships.
Game One
The Braves took the lead in the top of the first inning.
Katie Enneking singled to right and then stole second.
Allison Kearney hit a single to left, moving Enneking to third. An error by the SC left fielder scored Enneking, giving OU the 1-0 lead. Kearney scored on a wild pitch and Ottawa had a 2-0 lead.
Ottawa increased its lead in the top of the third inning.
Riley Newbold walked and moved 60 feet to second on a wild pitch. Enneking's ground out moved Newbold to third. Kearney reached first on a fielder's choice and then stole second to give the Braves two base runners in scoring position. A wild pitch scored Newbold and moved Kearney to third, giving the Braves a 3-0 lead.
Madison Bunfill walked and stole second.
Emma Melvin hit a single down the right field line, scoring both Kearney and Bunfill to give the Braves a 5-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth inning, Ottawa pushed two more runs across home plate.
Macey Morris struck out but reached first on a wild pitch. Another wild pitch moved Morris to second. Newbold singled to right, scoring Morris and Ottawa had a 6-0 lead. After a Warrior pitching change, Enneking reached first on an error by the SC second baseman and Newbold moved to second. Kearney's double up the middle scored Newbold, increasing the Ottawa lead to 7-0.
Sterling scored one run in the bottom of the seventh, but the Braves slammed the door on any thought of a rally, taking the 7-1 victory.
Inside the Box Score
Game Two
Ottawa struck first, taking the lead in the top of the first inning.
Riley Newbold walked and then moved to second on a wild pitch.
Katie Enneking walked, and the Braves had runners on first and second.
Allison Kearney doubled up the middle, scoring Newbold and Enneking to give OU a 2-0 lead.
Emma Melvin's single down the right field line scored Kearny and Ottawa had a 3-0 lead. The Braves scored one more run in the inning.
Hannah Copeland doubled to left-center, moving Melvin to third. Melvin was able to score on an error by the SC right fielder and the Braves had a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the second, Ottawa extended its lead.
Macey Morris reached first and moved to second on an error by the Warrior third baseman. Kearney's double to left scored Morris, giving the Braves a 5-0 lead.
Ottawa scored three more runs in the top of the fourth. Back-to-back singles by Morris and Newbold gave OU runners on first and second. An error by the SC third baseman, loaded the bases for the Braves. Another Warrior miscue scored Morris and Newbold to give Ottawa a 7-0 lead.
Madison Bunfill scored the final run of the inning for OU. She hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Enneking and OU led 8-0.
Sterling was able to extend the game in the bottom of the fifth with two runs, 8-2. After a scoreless sixth, Ottawa pushed one more run across home plate in the top of the seventh. Copeland walked, bringing in
Staci Bond as a pinch runner.
Emma Ryan doubled to left and Bond scored to give OU the lead and the game, 9-2.
Inside the Box Score
Who is Next
Ottawa (38-7) finishes the regular season on the road at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan. on Saturday, April 29. Game one of the double header is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
