COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As the day light darkened, the Ohio Dominican softball team and Urbana lit up the scoreboard, as the Panthers held on for an 11-10 victory in a non-conference matchup Thursday.

The Panthers (4-16) and Blue Knights (5-10) were scheduled to play two games on Thursday, but since the first game last approximately two hours and 35 minutes, the teams were only able to reach the bottom of the third inning in game two, before it was called due to darkness. Since the game did not finish five full innings, by NCAA rules it does not count. For now, the game will not be rescheduled.

The first game saw the two teams combine for 21 runs, 23 hits, and eight other batters reached base safely on walks. In the final two innings of the game, ODU and UU combined for a total of nine runs.

Freshman Taylor Kline (Bellville, OH) extended her hitting streak to 10 games as she went 3-of-5 at the plate. Kline also scored three times and stole one base.

Seniors Alex Cribari (Lyndhurst, OH) and Taylor Thomas (Bellville, OH) each recorded two hits as well. Each added two RBI and Cribari also scored twice.

Sophomore Kelly Wallace (Oshkosh, WI) went 2-for-3 at the plate, driving in three runs and also score three times.

Up by one going into the final inning, the Panthers allowed three runs to fall behind by a score of 10-8. Junior Kelsey Albanese (Westerville, OH) would start the rally in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff double.

Wallace would then hit a home run to left center to tie the ballgame at 10-10. After Cribari was retired on a groundout, Kline reached safely on an error and then stole second base. Two batters later, with two outs in the inning, sophomore Casey Murdoch (Morrow, OH) would hit a hard ground ball to the shortstop, who did not handle it cleanly, as Kline would score from second base to secure the victory for ODU.

The Blue Knights would jump out to an early 5-0 lead after two and a half innings, scoring once in the first and third innings, and three times in the second inning.

In the bottom half of the third, the Panthers would light up their side of the scoreboard, scoring twice. Wallace started off the inning with a walk, followed by a single from Kline. A single from Allie Hinton (Newcomerstown, OH) would load the bases. Sophomore Casey Murdoch (Morrow, OH) then singled up the middle, driving in both Wallace and Kline.

The Black and Gold tied the game in the fourth inning as they scored three runs on four hits. A double from Wallace would score Liz Sutter (Mansfield, OH). Then Cribari would homer to left center to tie the game 5-5 after four innings.

Urbana would then score twice in the following inning to take a 7-5 lead. After a scoreless fifth for the Panthers, they would add three runs in the bottom of the six to take an 8-7 lead into the final inning.

Cribari would score on a sacrifice bunt from Kelsey Seeds (Westerville, OH). Then Kline who singled earlier in the inning, along with Hinton, who walked, would score on a single from Thomas.

Murdoch, who came in relief in the seventh, earned the victory, improving her season record to 2-3.

The Panthers will next be on the diamond Saturday as they open up GLIAC play against 13-1 Ashland. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. at Ashland.

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@ohiodominican.edu