COLUMBUS, Ohio --The Ohio Dominican softball team returned to conference play on Sunday afternoon on Friends of Jaclyn Day, splitting a doubleheader with Northwood.

The Panthers (5-21, 1-3 GLIAC) were able to take the first game as three pitchers combined to allow just one run, on five hits, to win 2-1. The Timberwolves (4-13, 1-1 GLIAC) offense, however, would be too much in game two, as NU won 8-4.

Freshman Taylor Kline (Bellville, OH) was hit by a pitch in the first game, and then added four hits in five at-bats in the second game to run her streak of games she has reached safely to 17.

Sophomore Allie Hinton (Newcomerstown, OH) went 2-for-2 at the plate in the first game, hitting a home run and a double. Hinton scored both runs for the Panthers in the opening contest.

The pitching combination of freshman Haley Earl (Dyer, IN), senior Brandis Fishel (Gahanna, OH), and freshman Alex Jander (Gahanna, OH) struck out just one batter, but they only allowed eight runners to reach base via a hit or walk.

Earl pitched three hitless innings to start the game for the Panthers, while Fishel recorded her first win of the season, allowing one unearned run on two hits. Jander logged her first collegiate save, throwing two innings, allowing three hits and no runs.

The Panthers scored in the opening inning, as Hinton hit a home run on the first pitch she saw, over the left field fence. The Timberwolves, however, would tie the game in the top of the fourth inning, 1-1.

After a Hinton double, junior Kelsey Albanese (Westerville, OH) hit a single to right field to drive in what would be the game winning run in the bottom of the fourth.

In the second game, NU jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead after the opening inning, and then added another run in the second to take a 4-0 lead.

The Panthers would rally to tie the game at 4-4 in the top half of the fourth inning. Senior Alex Cribari (Lyndhurst, OH) would single to start the inning. After ODU sacrificed Cribari over to second on a bunt, junior Brier Sanner (Hartville, OH) and senior Kelsey Seeds (Westerville, OH) each walked to load the bases.

Singles from Kline and junior Lizzy Weber (Canton, OH) would score the first three runs of the game for ODU. Sophomore Casey Murdoch (Morrow, OH) would then pinch hit later in the inning and single to drive in the tying run.

The Timberwolves would answer the Panther rally, by scoring in each of the next three innings, scoring once in the fourth, twice in the fifth, and once in the sixth. The Panthers would be able to load the bases in the seventh inning with just one out, but they were unable to score, falling 8-4.

ODU will be right back on the diamond, as they host Lake Superior State for a doubleheader starting at 1:30 p.m. on Monday at Panther Field.

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@ohiodominican.edu