BEREA, Ohio – Mount Union's softball team beat Ohio Northern 3-2 in the first round of the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday afternoon.

The Purple Raiders (25-12, 13-5 OAC) would strike first when senior Adri George (Eastlake / North) hit an RBI double to center field that brought in junior Sydney Mercer (Salem / West Branch) to take a 1-0 lead. Then, later in that same hit senior Tori Sickafoose (Magnolia / Sandy Valley) hit an RBI single to score George and extend the lead to two runs.

Mount Union would add to the lead in the bottom half of the third when junior Lydia Brunner (Minerva) hit an RBI single that brought in junior Kendyll Cahill (Groveport / Groveport Madison) to extend the lead to three runs.

The Polar Bears (19-22, 12-6 OAC) would answer with a pair of runs in the following inning, with RBIs coming from Carlie Schroeder and Taylor Hilty to cut the lead to 3-2. However, they would not be able to plate any more runs as the Raiders would go on to win 3-2.

Cahill got the start in the circle for Mount Union and threw a complete game, giving up two runs on eight hits and striking out three.

With the win the Raiders advance to the semifinals of the OAC Tournament that will take place tomorrow at 11 a.m., where they will take on the winner of Baldwin Wallace and Muskingum in Berea.