Clermont, Fla. -- The Ohio Dominican softball team found its groove on Wednesday as they won all three games played at the NTC Spring Games.

The Panthers (3-14) recorded their first win of the season by defeating Lock Haven (2-8) in the first of three games on Wednesday by a score of 5-3. In game two, ODU defeated Maryville (3-9), 9-5. The Black and Gold then closed out the day with a 6-0 victory over Southwest Minnesota State (8-5).

Freshman Taylor Kline (Bellville, OH) led ODU in hits on the day with five in 11 at-bats. Kline also added five runs scored. Sophomore Allie Hinton (Newcomerstown, OH) went 3-of-10 from the plate, and had a team high five RBI. Sophomore Casey Murdoch (Morrow, OH) added three hits, three RBI, and two runs scored. Junior Lizzy Weber (Canton, OH) also recorded five hits, while adding two runs and two RBI.

In game one, the Panthers would get off to a quick start like they have all week, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Murdoch drove in one run with a single, and senior Alex Cribari (Lyndhurst, OH) drove in two runs with a triple.

Lock Haven would add a run in the top of the third to close the Panther lead to 3-2. ODU, however, answered with a run of their own, when senior Taylor Thomas (Bellville, OH) scored off a double to right field from sophomore Kelly Wallace (Oshkosh, WI).

The Panthers would add an insurance run in the bottom of the six when freshman Kline crossed the plate to give ODU the 5-3 lead.

Murdoch started the game in the pitching circle for ODU, going five innings, and allowing just five hits and three earned runs, as she recorded the first win for the Panther pitching staff. Senior Brandis Fishel (Gahanna, OH) pitched two shutout innings to seal the victory, as she struck out three batters, while picking up the save.

Against, Maryville in game two, the Panthers would allow one run in the first two innings, as they trailed 1-0. In the top of the third, ODU would record six runs on six hits. The Panthers would get RBI singles from Weber and Hinton, while the other four runs for the Black and Gold were unearned after two errors by the Saints. Maryville would add a run in the bottom half of the inning, as ODU led 6-2 through three innings.

ODU would add two runs in the fourth, receiving RBI on a Hinton single and a Murdoch sacrifice fly. Junior Brier Sanner (Hartville, OH) would score on a two out triple from Weber. The Saints would only add three runs to their total, as the Panthers held on for a 9-5 victory.

Freshman Bailey Miller (Cincinnati, OH) picked up her first victory as a pitcher for the Black and Gold, going 4.1 innings. Murdoch closed the game on the rubber, pitching 2.2 innings, giving up just two hits and no runs.

The Panthers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the third game against SMSU, as Kline and senior Kelsey Seeds (Westerville, OH) crossed the plate in the opening inning.

Both teams would record blanks on the scoreboard until the sixth inning when ODU received a RBI single from Fishel which scored junior Kelsey Albanese (Westerville, OH) to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead.

The Black and Gold would add three more runs in the top half of the seventh inning, highlighted by a double from Hinton which scored Kline and Seeds.

Freshman Haley Earl (Dyer, IN) recorded her best performance of the season, pitching all seven innings, allowing just two hits, logging her first complete shutout victory of her collegiate career.

The Panthers will be off on Thursday, and will look to carry their momentum into the last day of the NTC Spring Games on Friday when they face Northern State and No. 15 Winona State.

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@ohiodominican.edu