COLUMBUS, Ohio – A six-run sixth inning in game two helped propel Ohio Dominican's softball team to a doubleheader sweep of visiting Lake Superior State as the Panthers followed a 12-2 victory in the opener with a 13-12 slugfest win in game two.

After pounding out 11 hits in a five inning victory in the opener, the Panthers found themselves down 12-7 heading into the sixth as the Lakers scored seven runs in the fifth.

Sophomore Allie Hinton (Newcomerstown, Ohio) had an RBI single, junior Lizzy Weber (Canton, Ohio) scored on a passed ball and senior Kelsey Seeds (Westerville, Ohio)  smacked a two-run double to draw ODU to within 12-11.

With two outs, sophomore Kelly Wallace (Oshkosh, Wisc.) hit an RBI single back up the middle, and junior Brier Sanner (Hartville, Ohio) followed with a run-scoring double to right-center to give the Panthers a 13-12 advantage.

Senior Brandis Fishel (Gahanna, Ohio) got a double play pop out to help herself get out of the sixth inning, then worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning to give the Panthers the one-run victory.

ODU (7-21, 3-3 GLIAC) pounded out 16 hits in the game as six players had at least two hits. Junior Kelsey Albanese (Westerville, Ohio) and Seeds each went 3-for-5, with Albanese scoring three runs, and Wallace had two hits and three RBI in the game.

The Panthers grabbed a 7-5 lead in the fifth on sac flies by senior Taylor Thomas (Bellville, Ohio) and Wallace and an RBI basehit by Albanese before the Lakers (7-11, 0-4 GLIAC) scored their seven runs in the bottom half of the inning to go in front 12-7.

Fishel threw 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit, to pick up the victory.

The Panthers controlled the opener from the first inning, sending 12 hitters to the plate and scoring seven runs. The first seven batters of the game reached safely, with Weber hitting an RBI double and Hinton drilling a two-run homer early in the inning.

ODU capped the scoring in the inning on a two-run basehit by senior Alex Cribari (Lyndhurst, Ohio) to take the 7-0 lead.

Wallace homered in the third to make it 8-0, and Thomas smashed a three-run homer in the fifth to end the game.

Freshman Haley Earl (Dyer, Ind.) started and picked up the win, and Fishel also pitched effectively in relief with three scoreless innings.

Thomas went 3-for-4 as both she and Hinton tallied three RBI. The top four hitters in the lineup each scored two runs.

On the day, the Panthers went 27-of-63 (.429) at the plate. Albanese, Thomas, Hinton and freshman Taylor Kline (Bellville, Ohio) each had four hits and scored three or more runs. Wallace went 3-for-3 with two walks and two sac flies. Hinton totaled five RBI, while Wallace and Thomas each had four.

Ohio Dominican is back in action at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Findlay.

Contact: Tyler Jester
jestert@ohiodominican.edu