COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican softball team earned a pair of victories on Wednesday as they defeated future Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) rival Lake Erie College. In their first doubleheader after returning from their annual spring trip the Panthers knocked off the Storm by the scores of 7-3 and 7-5.
Ohio Dominican jumped all over the Storm in game one as they pushed across runs in each of the first three innings to take an early lead. ODU plated two runs in the first inning and followed that up with a four run rally in the second to take a 6-0 lead. The Panthers took a 7-0 lead into the fourth before Lake Erie was able to get on the board.
The Panthers seven runs came on 10 hits led by junior center fielder Jennifer Baker's (Cortland, OH) who went 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Samantha Wolfe (Jr./Columbus, OH) and Erica Sutter (Sr./Mansfield, OH) collected two hits apiece in the victory. Maria Staton (Jr./New Bremen, OH) earned the win in the circle as she went six innings allowing three runs on six hits.
Lake Erie took the early lead in the nightcap as they took a 5-0 lead into the fifth inning before ODU rallied for seven runs to complete the sweep. The Panthers seven run inning was fueled by a pair of 3-run doubles from Wolfe and Muriel Kelly (Sr./Ocala, FL; pictured). Kelly's two out pinch hit double gave the Panthers the lead for good.
Erica Sutter earned the victory after coming on in relief in the second inning. Sutter shut down the Storm as she threw 4.1 innings and didn't allow a hit.
Ohio Dominican will return to action this Saturday, March 20th as they host Ashland University in their home opener. Game one of the non-conference doubleheader is set to begin at 1 p.m.
