WINFIELD, Kan. – The (17) Ottawa University softball team took two from Southwestern College on Saturday afternoon at the Broadway Sports Complex. Ottawa won game one, 5-1, and game two, 6-2. The win in game two was OU's 30
th victory of the season. It is the ninth time in program history that the Braves have won 30 or more games in a season.
Game One
The Braves struck first taking the lead in the top of the first inning.
Katie Enneking singled to right.
Allison Kearney scored Enneking with a double to left and OU led 1-0.
Emma Melvin's single to right scored Kearney, giving the Braves a 2-0 lead.
Ottawa increased its lead over the Moundbuilders in the top of the second.
Aliks Serna singled to right.
Cierra Faubion's pop out to shallow left moved Serna to second. Serna scored on an error by the SWC first baseman and the Braves had a 3-0 lead.
OU pushed two more runs across home plate in the top of the third.
Madison Bunfill doubled to center and then stole third. Melvin doubled down the left field line, scoring Bunfill to give Ottawa a 4-0 lead. Serna's single to right scored Melvin, increasing the OU lead to 5-0.
Southwestern cut into the Brave lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth, 5-1. That would be the last scoring threat for the Moundbuilders as they went down in order in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings and OU took the 5-1 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Aliks Serna went 2-for-3 at the plate, driving in a run and scoring one.
- Emma Melvin had two hits in three at bats, scoring one run and finishing with two RBI.
- Ashlynn Mercer pitched seven innings in the win, striking out eight and only allowing three hits.
Game Two
Ottawa took the lead in the top of the second inning. With two outs, the Braves were able to score two runs.
Emma Ryan walked and then moved to second on a wild pitch.
Macey Morris doubled to center, scoring Ryan to give OU a 1-0 lead. Morris then moved 60 feet from home on a wild pitch.
Riley Newbold singled to right, scoring Morris and OU had a 2-0 lead.
The Braves increased their lead in the top of the fifth.
Allison Kearney doubled to left and then moved to third on the throw.
Madison Bunfill hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Kearney and the Braves had a 3-0 lead.
Southwestern cut into the OU lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, 3-2. Ottawa would get one of those runs back in the top of the sixth.
Kara Hafenstine hit an infield single and then stole second. A ground out to third by
Kelcie Kippes moved Hafenstine to third. She crossed home plate on a passed ball to give OU a 4-2 lead.
In the top of the seventh, the Braves scored two insurance runs. With two outs, Bunfill singled to left.
Hannah Copeland's double to right scored Bunfill and the Braves lead 5-2. Ottawa scored one more run on a Moundbuilder miscue.
Staci Bond, pinch running for Copeland, stole third. A throwing error by the SWC catcher scored Bond and the Braves had the lead and the game, 6-2.
Inside the Box Score
Who is Next
The Braves (30-5, 13-1) return to the diamond on Tuesday, April 11 against Friends University at Alumni Park. Game one of the double header is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
