OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University softball team was defeated by Morningside University on Tuesday afternoon at Alumni Park. The Braves fell 12-6 in game one and 5-2 in game two.

Game One
Morningside struck first, taking a 1-0 lead over the Braves in the top of the first inning. Ottawa answered in the bottom of the first.

Macy Roever walked and then stole second. Kara Hafenstine tripled to right, scoring Roever and the game was tied 1-1. Addison Spencer scored Hafenstine with a ground out to second and OU led 2-1. Emma Melvin scored the final run of the inning for the Braves with a home run to center field and Ottawa had a 3-1 lead.

The Mustangs tied the game in the top of the third, 3-3. Morningside retook the lead with six runs in the top of the sixth, 10-3.

The Braves cut into the Morningside lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Mallory Dunn doubled to left center and then moved to third on a ground out by Davanie Medina. Roever tripled to center, scoring Dunn and the Braves were down 9-4. Ottawa was able to push one more run across home plate with a steal of home by Roever and OU trailed 9-5.

Morningside scored three more runs in the top of the seventh, taking a 12-5 lead over OU. The Braves scored one run in the bottom of the seventh but that is all the closer they were able to get, falling 12-6.

Inside the Box Score

• Mallory Dunn, Kara Hafenstine, and Macy Roever had two hits apiece.
• Addison Spencer led OU with two RBI
• Lanie Becker pitched 4.2 innings, striking out two.
• Sara Smith pitched 2.1 innings.

Game two
Ottawa took the lead in the bottom of the first. Kara Hafenstine reached first on an error by the MU third baseman and then swiped second. A single to right center by Katie Enneking scored Hafenstine and OU had a 1-0 lead.

After a scoreless second inning, Morningside took the lead with three runs in the top of the third, 3-1. The Braves cut into the Mustang lead with a run in the bottom of the third.

Macy Roever reached first on a bunt single. Hafenstine's sacrifice bunt moved Roever to second. Roever moved 60 feet from home on a wild pitch. Spender grounded out to first, scoring Roever and OU was down 3-2.

Neither team was able to score in the fourth and fifth innings. Morningside was able to increase its lead over the Braves with two runs in the top of the sixth, 5-2. Ottawa was unable to rally in their final two at bats and the Mustangs took the 5-2 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Macy Roever went 2-for-4 at the plate, scoring one run.
• Cesara Roque pitched 5.1 innings, striking out one.
• Megan Kohl pitched 1.2 innings, striking out two.

Who is Next
Ottawa (8-10) returns to the diamond on Thursday, March 6 in Atchison, Kan. against Benedictine College. Game one of the double header is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.