HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – On day two of the Ringor Charger Chillout Tournament, the Ohio Dominican softball team split a pair of games against Kentucky Wesleyan and Union College (Tenn.). The Panthers beat Kentucky Wesleyan 3-2 in game one, but fell to Union 4-3 in the second.

The Panthers opened the scoring early, knocking three runs in in the first inning. Junior Kelsey Seeds (Westerville, Ohio) started the inning off with a single to left field, which was followed by an infield single by junior Alex Cribari (Lyndhurst, Ohio). Sophomore Lizzy Weber (Canton, Ohio) followed suit, reaching base on a bunt single. Sophomore Kelsey Albanese (Westerville, Ohio) knocked in her first two RBI of the season after a single through the right side on the infield. While trying to stretch her single into a double, Albanese was thrown out at second but it allowed Weber to score to make the score 3-0.

Kentucky Wesleyan earned a run back in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead down to 3-1 and in the bottom of the fifth inning, knocked in another run to make it a one run game.

Both teams were held scoreless for the remainder of the game, with the Panthers hanging onto the lead and win.

Offensively, the Panthers were led by Albanese, who was 1-for-3 from the plate with two RBI. Seeds, Weber, and junior Taylor Thomas (Bellville, Ohio) all had two hits.

Thomas earned the win for the Panthers, pitching four innings while allowing one run on four hits.

In game two of the day, the bats stayed hot for Ohio Dominican, scoring two runs in the first inning. Seeds doubled to left field to kick off the inning and Cribari advanced her over on a bunt single. Weber laid down a sacrifice bunt, scoring Seeds from third. Thomas knocked in Cribari on a sacrifice fly to center field.

In the second inning, junior Rachael Stanzel (Angleton, Texas) doubled to center field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Allie Hinton (Newcomerstown, Ohio). After freshman Sommer Mark (DeLand, Fla.) drew a walk, she stole second, which allowed Stanzel to score to give ODU a 3-0 lead.

Union tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when Shelby Lamb hit a one out double to center field. Alex Williams batted Lamb in on a double to right center. A double by Union scored two more runs to tie the game 3-3 and another double gave them the lead 4-3.

The Panthers threatened to tie the game with a running on third, but a tough Union defense held ODU at bay to hang onto the lead.

Weber and Thomas each had an RBI for the Panthers.

Ohio Dominican concludes the tournament tomorrow, Feb. 9 against West Georgia and Young Harris.

Contact: Sarah Twiggs
twiggss@ohiodominican.edu