Ohio Northern advances to title game of OAC Softball Tournament with 4-1 win over JCU

By Tim Glon

| Box Score | Championships Site |

ADA --  No. 6-ranked Ohio Northern got three 2-out RBI hits to defeat John Carroll 4-1 in the semifinal of the 2009 Ohio Athletic Conference Softball Tournament Saturday afternoon at the ONU Softball Field.

The top-seeded Polar Bears (34-3) advance to the finals on Saturday at 1 pm.

The second-seeded Blue Streaks (28-10) fall into the loser's bracket and will face either third-seeded Mount Union or fourth-seeded Muskingum in an elimination game Saturday at 11 am.

Northern took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second frame on a 2-out single up the middle by Katie Salay, scoring Cassie Gaye with the game's first run.

JCU tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth when Erin Riccardi drilled a solo home run to left center.

Cassie Gaye delivered a 2-out, 2-run single in the bottom of the fifth, scoring Liz Decima and pinch-runner Tabby Pike, to put the Polar Bears back up 3-1.

Atwo-our single by Decima in the bottom of the sixth scored Salay to put ONU up 4-1.

Cash threw a 4-hitter to earn the win and improve to 23-1 on the season for ONU.