WILMINGTON, Ohio – The offensive woes continued for the Wilmington College team on Wednesday as Ohio Northern University swept the Quakers 9-0 in six innings and 1-0 an in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) series at the WC Softball Complex.
In game one, Izzy Rothrock kept the Polar Bear offense in check in the first two innings as the sophomore pitched around a one-out single in the first and retired ONU on three pitches in the second. The Quakers got a runner in scoring position in both innings, but failed to score as well.
In the third, ONU put together three hits including two doubles that plated two runs to open the scoring. One inning later Allie Wilson led off with a triple to right center, but was held from scoring thanks to a pop up, strikeout and ground out. In the bottom of the fifth, both Logann Julian and Olivia Doll singled, but consecutive strikeouts from Polar Bear ace Ashley Lenser end the inning.
Things went awry for Wilmington in the top of the sixth as the Quakers committed three fielding errors. Combined with four hits, the Polar Bears scored seven runs (six of them unearned) to finish the contest in six innings.
Lenser improved to 8-5 on the year by scattering six hits over six innings with five strikeouts. Rothrock fell to 1-4 allowing four earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts in five innings. Avree Entler pitched the final inning for WC, surrendering three hits and three unearned runs.
Offensively, Abby Elliott went 2-for-2 two a walk, two RBIs and a run scored for ONU while Lauren Walls was 2-for-4 with a double. For WC, Julian finished 2-for-2 with a double.
Though the nightcap featured just one run, the contest didn't appear to be trending that direction early. ONU (15-11, 5-3 OAC) loaded the bases with one out in each of the first two innings. WC starter Alexis Stringfellow got out of both jams with a strikeout in each inning as well as a fielder's choice in the first and a groundout in the second. The Quakers' offense, looking to score its first run since Tuesday of last week, also stranded runners early. The hosts had runners at the corners with no outs in the first, but couldn't drive in a run.
Both pitchers settled after the early scares, but the Polar Bears would strike in the fourth. Annika Murphy tripled with one out, and after a shallow flyout, the Quakers were unable to execute a ground ball which resulted in the game's only run scoring. WC got two multiple runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn't tie the game as a popout ended the game.
Allie Bican improved to 7-6 with the shutout, scattering seven hits with nine strikeouts. Stringfellow dipped to 4-4 despite not allowing an earned run, scattering seven hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
Kaylie Griffin went 2-for-3 for ONU in game two while McKenna Archey and Judaea Wilson both have multi-hit games for the Quakers.
Wilmington (10-14, 0-8 OAC) hosts Marietta College for the program's annual "Strike Out Cancer" series on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
