(COLUMBUS, OH)--Mount Union ran its winning streak to a season-best 11 games and maintained sole possession of second place in the Ohio Athletic Conference with 2-0 and 6-2 wins Friday at Capital in Columbus, Ohio.

The wins move Mount Union to 23-11 overall and 11-3 in the OAC which keeps them in striking distance of first place Ohio Northern that entered the day 30-2 and 12-0 in the OAC.  The Polar Bears host Muskingum on Friday.

Capital falls to 21-14 overall and 6-8 in the OAC.

Sophomore pitcher Bre Willis (Navarre/Fairless) pitched a complete game five-hitter, struck out five and led Mount Union to a 2-0 win in game one. 

Mount Union only had five hits themselves as Capital ace Brittany Stefano allowed only two hits through the first four innings.  But back-to-back singles by senior Anna Horning (Cuyahoga Falls/Woodrige) and sophomore Ashley Henriques (Canton/GlenOak) got the Raiders a 1-0 lead.

Senior Meghan Simons (Minerva/Minerva) then added an insurance run with a one-out home run, her seventh on the season, in the fifth for Mount Union's other run.

The Crusaders took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of game two, but Mount Union struck back in the second as junior Mara Palombaro (Boardman/Cardinal Mooney) hit a two-out, two-run home run to make the score 2-1.

Mount Union struck again in the fifth as Simons hit an RBI double and Palombaro drove in a run on a single to extend the lead to 4-1.  The Raiders extended the lead to 6-1 as senior Stephanie Cain (Akron/Springfield Local) drove in single runs in the sixth and seventh.

Capital tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh as first three hitters reached and a run scored, before freshman Rachel McAninch (West Jefferson/West Jefferson) retired the side to hurl a complete-game five-hitter and move to 13-1 on the season.

Palombaro finished the game 4-for-4 with three RBI.

Mount Union returns home to finish the regular season with two games Sunday at 1 pm against Marietta then next Saturday, May 1 at 1 pm against Ohio Northern