For the first time since February 28 in Florida, the Alma College softball team finally got back on the diamond as they traveled to Ohio Northern for non-league doubleheader.

Offense was the rule of thumb for the Scots on the day as they defeated the Polar Bears 14-12 in game one and then took game two 6-3 in six innings. The nightcap was called one inning short due to darkness.

With the two wins, Alma improved to 7-5 on the season, while Ohio Northern fell to 7-7 in 2014.

GAME 1

In game one, Ohio Northern jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Alma gave up a two-out unearned run that culminated with an infield error that allowed a runner to cross the plate.

The Scots answered with five runs in the top half of the second as they pounded out five hits and took advantage of one Polar Bears error. Jr. SS Devin Olah (White Lake/Lakeland) knocked in a run with a single and the big hit of the frame came from Sr. LF Allie Jo Nave (Onway/Onaway). She doubled to center field with two outs and the bases loaded and earned three RBI's with the hit.

After a scoreless bottom of the second for ONU, Alma tacked on four more runs in the top of third. Jr. P Cori Witham (North Muskegon/North Muskegon) and So. C Kayla Merice (Dorr/Wayland) led off the frame with singles and Witham would later score on an error. Then, with the bases loaded, Nave doubled to center field again, knocking in three more runs to give the Scots the 9-1 advantage.

What looked like might be an easy game for the Scots turned dramatically over the next two innings. The Polar Bears scored a single run in the bottom of the third and added give more in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 9-7 game. All seven runs (five earned) were charged to Witham and Jr. P Breu Olling (Breckenridge/Breckenridge) came in to relieve her with two outs in the fourth.

Alma would stretch their lead to 14-7 with two runs in each of the fifth and sixth inning and a single tally in the seventh. Nave had a two-run homer in the fifth, while Merice had a two-run dinger in the sixth. The final run was knocked in on a single by Jr. CF Brooke Hein (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Northview).

The Polar Bears made it interesting before it was a final however. In the bottom half of the seventh, ONU recorded six hits and five runs (all of Olling) before Jr. P Samantha Pierce (Clarklake/Michigan Center) was able to come in and get three outs to notch her third save of the year.

The Scots finished with 15 hits in the game while the statistical highlight was Nave's eight runs batted in. That marks the second-highest individual total in a game in Alma College history - the most being nine by Stephanie Bailey in 1990 versus Rollins. Witham earned the pitching win in the circle and is now 3-0 on the season.

GAME 2

The nightcap was a bit more tame offensively, but still had fireworks of its own as the Scots prevailed 6-3 to earn the day's sweep.

Nave opened the game with a single and stole second in the top of the first inning. She was then knocked home on a single by Merice and just like that, the visitors led 1-0. That advantage would remain until ONU was able to scratch out two runs (one unearned) against Alma starter Pierce in the bottom of the third.

The Scots tied it at 2-2 in their half of the fourth when Witham led off with a single and was pinch ran for by Fr. Celeste Boyer (South Lyon/South Lyon East). Boyer advanced to second on an error and scored on a RBI single by Olah.

ONU regained the lead at 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth on two hits and one Alma error. However, the Scots would answer with two runs in each of the fifth and sixth frames to take the 6-3 lead.

Sr. 1B Christina Snoblen (Alma/Alma) homered in the top of the fifth, scoring Fr. PR Jade Garcia (Kentwood/East Kentwood). Then Jr. 3B Lea Lusk (Columbiaville/Lakeville) and Snoblen knocked in single runs in the sixth.

After Pierce recorded a perfect bottom of the sixth inning, the game was called due to darkness and visiting Scots had earned the 6-3 victory. Pierce went the distance in the circle and had five strikeouts with three walks and six hits allowed.

Snoblen finished the game with three total hits and three RBI's, while Merice and Olah each contributed two hits a piece.

Alma's season continues tomorrow with two scheduled contests at Ohio Wesleyan University. The first game is set for 1:00 p.m. while game two will be approximately 3:00 p.m.