TORONTO - On paper, the game looked like a mismatch. The Humber Hawks are the defending Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) champions and sport an undefeated record. The Seneca Sting, meanwhile, had been outscored 55-3 in their previous four match-ups against the Hawks dating back to last season.

The Sting showed poise all night and battled for seven innings against one of the conference's best pitchers in Jessica O'Quinn. Although the result was a loss for the Sting, the team may have shown the fans and themselves that they can in fact compete with the best in the OCAA.

The Hawks jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning under the lights at Newnham Campus Field. Jacquiline O'Quinn reached on an error before finishing at second base. She proceeded to steal third and score on a throwing error for the early lead.

Not to be deterred, the Sting showed a competitive fight in the second inning as Krista Owczar (Peterborough) led off the inning with a double and then advanced to third on a single by former Hawk Lindsay Ballance (Napanee). Ballance stole second to put two runnings in scoring position with no outs, but Jessica O'Quinn was able to get out of the jam unscathed.

Humber added a second run in the third inning when Kelsey Bardy crossed the plate.

The Sting once again put two runners on base in the bottom of the fourth inning as Ballance walked and then advanced to second following a single by Natalie Chiarotto (Lefroy). The inning stalled as the next batter up grounded out to third base.

The Hawks looked to put the game out of reach with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning, but Seneca would not go quietly. The first two Sting batters reached safely in the bottom of the seventh after back-to-back singles by Chiarotto and Lauren McLaughlin (Oakville). After Jessica O'Quinn was able to get the next two batters out, Victoria Whidden (Mississauga) hit an RBI single to left centerfield to put the Sting on the board. With the tying run at the plate, Tina O'Donnell hit a slow roller to second base. Hustling hard, O'Donnell appeared to beat the throw, but was called out to end the game.

The Sting are back in action on Monday as they travel to Mohawk at 5:30 p.m.  The Hawks will travel to St. Clair for a doubleheader on Sunday at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Source: Seneca College