ADA, Ohio—The Mount Union softball team split a road doubleheader Sunday at Ohio Northern, who entered the day unbeaten against Ohio Athletic Conference opponents. The Purple Raiders (14-18, 4-8 OAC) won the first game 5-0 before falling in the nightcap, 9-5.

Senior Bre Willis (Navarre/Fairless) had a masterful pitching performance in the opener, as the Polar Bears were held scoreless for just the second time this season. Willis (7-8) scattered four hits over seven innings and had a season-high nine strikeouts in recording her third shutout of the season.

Mount Union struck early with three runs in the top of the 1st. Junior Kristen Gromes (Navarre/Fairless) doubled to start the game and moved to third on an infield single by junior Marissa Earl (Massillon/Massillon Washington). A sac bunt by freshman Amy Brown (Uniontown/Lake) scored Gromes. Earl moved to third on the bunt and scored on a wild pitch. Sophomore Shelby Carmichael (Dalton/Dalton) hit a solo homer to give Willis a three-run cushion.

Carmichael added an RBI double in the 5th inning, as did sophomore Brenna Longo (Moon, Pa./Moon) in the 7th. Longo had three hits to led five Raiders with multi-hit games. Carmichael, Earl, freshman Kaylah Nieschwitz (Canton/St. Thomas Aquinas), and freshman Leigh Siedlak (Westerville/Westerville South) each had a pair of hits.

Abby Bensing (7-4) took the loss for Ohio Northern. Bensing allowed five runs on 13 hits as she went the distance for the Polar Bears. At the plate, Cristin Miller had two of Ohio Northern's four hits.

Gromes homered to start the second game, providing the Raiders with early offense. After being held scoreless in the first inning, the Polar Bears finally got on the board with four runs in the 2nd.

The Raiders responded with a pair of runs in the 3rd inning as Gromes delivered another leadoff extra-base hit, this time of the two-base variety. Siedlak hit a two-run homer a few batters later to score Gromes and cut the Polar Bear lead to 4-3.

Another four-run inning in the 4th put Ohio Northern ahead 8-3, but the Raiders would not go away without putting up a fight. Siedlak and Carmichael delivered back-to-back RBI singles in the 5th inning, which brought the tying run to the plate. The Polar Bears got out of the jam without allowing another run, and the Raiders managed just one base runner the rest of the way.  

Gromes led the Raider lineup with three hits, including a home run and a double, an RBI, two runs, and a stolen base. Siedlak added two hits with a home run and three RBI while Carmichael also had two hits and an RBI.

Junior Rachel McAninch (West Jefferson/West Jefferson) went the distance and took the loss for the Purple Raiders. McAninch (5-10) struck out eight batters while walking just one, but allowed 16 base hits and six earned runs. Dani Steepe (2-0) had five strikeouts and allowed three earned runs in four innings of work to get the win for Ohio Northern. Katy Newman pitched the final three innings for her second save of the season.

Kelly Sheridan was catalyst of the Polar Bear lineup, hitting successfully in all four at-bats, including two doubles, three RBI, and three runs. Miller and Jamie Westenkirchner added three hits apiece for Ohio Northern.

Mount Union will host Capital for a twin-bill in the home finale at 23rd Street Field Tuesday at 3:30 pm. This will be the final home game for Willis, the lone senior on the team.

Mount Union 5, Ohio Northern 0 (Game 1)
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Mount Union......... 300 010 1 -  5 13  0      (14-17, 4-7 OAC)
Ohio Northern....... 000 000 0 -  0  4  1      (17-6, 8-1 OAC)
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Pitchers: Mount Union - Bre Willis and Brittany Papp. Ohio Northern - Bensing and Blewett.
Win-Bre Willis(7-8)  Loss-Bensing(7-4)  T-1:46  A-110
HR MTU - Shelby Carmichael (1).
Weather: 75, Winds 20-30 out to center

Ohio Northern 9, Mount Union 5 (Game 2)
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Mount Union......... 102 020 0 -  5 10  1      (14-18, 4-8 OAC)
Ohio Northern....... 040 410 X -  9 16  2      (18-6, 9-1 OAC)
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Pitchers: Mount Union - Rachel McAninch and Brittany Papp. Ohio Northern - Steepe; Newman(5) and Blewett.
Win-Steepe(2-0)  Save-Newman(2)  Loss-Rachel McAninch(5-10)  T-1:53  A-110
HR MTU - Kristen Gromes (3); Leigh Siedlak (5).
Weather: 75, Wind 20-30 out to center