April 9, 2010

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – For her eleventh win of the year, pitcher Katie Hannagan (Monee, Ill.) tossed a five inning perfect game, just the sixth in ONU history, as the Tigers were able to defeat the Trojans from Trinity International University (Ill.) with a final score of 8-0 in the first game of the conference double header.

Hannagan faced the minimum of fifteen batters as she struck out three while recording 10 ground ball outs. The Trojans just couldn't figure the sophomore hurler out, as only one ball reached the outfield which was easily caught by left fielder Marisa Baker (Odon, Ill.). The only threat came in the fourth inning as TIU's Katie Kiscellus worked a full count. But Hannagan came up firing, luring Kiscellus into a 6-3 groundout.

From the offensive side, the Tigers put the game out of reach in the first inning, as they put up six runs on the board. Six singles and a walk resulted in the six runs with Jordan Reynolds (Metamora, Ill.), Rachel Comoglio (Logansport, Ind.), Caitlin Gidcumb (Spring Valley, Ill.), Nora Duffy (Oak Lawn, Ill.), and Baker all receiving one RBI apiece.

Baker scored again in the fourth with Reynolds registering a sacrifice fly to center. The final run came in the fifth, as Gidcumb crushed a solo homerun over the right field fence to put the Tigers up 8-0.

ONU then took their momentum into the nightcap as the Tigers were able to put up nine runs off of seven hits and two walks by the end of the second inning. One of those hits was a three-run blast off the bat of Comoglio to plate Baker, Hannagan, and Reynolds.

In the third, three more Tigers crossed the plate as Baker blasted a two RBI double to left field. She would then score herself as she took advantage of a TIU wild pitch to make the score 12-0.

The Trojans finally reached the scoreboard in the fourth as Whitney Folven sent a homerun over the center field fence. ONU matched that run in the bottom half of the inning as Bethany Holaway (Wheaton, Ill.) knocked in Molly Anderson (Rock Falls, Ill.), who reached base on a lead off double.

Kelly Blucker (Rio, Ill.) recorded her third win of the year as her record improves to 3-1. She would go the distance, walking two while striking out three.

Offensively, Baker led the way for ONU, going 3-3 with four RBI's. Reynolds and Comoglio each recorded two hits and three RBI's, while Anderson and Holaway each had two hits apiece.

With the wins, Olivet improves to an impressive 29-3 overall and 8-0 in CCAC play. The women will take the field again tomorrow afternoon as they will travel to Mount Pleasant, Iowa to compete in the Sammons Classic Invitational. Their first game is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. versus Hannibal-Lagrange College (Mo.) followed by a 3:45 p.m. start against Iowa Wesleyan College. ONU will then wrap up their day against Mount Mercy College (Iowa) at 7:15 p.m.