BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- Playing in two extra inning games, the Ohio Dominican softball team would be unable to find the win column, dropping twice to Ferris State.

The Panthers (7-29, 3-11 GLIAC) would score twice in the seventh inning in the first game before falling in eight innings, 7-6. The Bulldogs (12-28, 5-7 GLIAC) would rally in the seventh in game two, to force extra innings, where they would win 5-4 in eight innings.

ODU, down 3-1 heading to the sixth inning in the first game of the day, would score five times in their final two at-bats of regulation. In the sixth, the Panthers would take their first lead, 4-3, after RBI doubles from sophomore Kelly Wallace (Oshkosh, WI) and senior Kelsey Seeds (Westerville, OH), and a RBI sacrifice fly from senior Taylor Thomas (Bellville, OH).

The Bulldogs, however, would answer with three runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth to take a 6-4 advantage into the seventh inning. The Panthers would rally for two runs in the inning to force extras after senior Brandis Fishel (Gahanna, OH) and junior Brier Sanner (Hartville, OH) would score on a single by junior Kelsey Albanese (Westerville, OH).

After going in order in the top of the eighth inning, ODU would concede the game winning run in the bottom half of the inning, falling 7-6.

The Black and Gold would respond from the hard fought loss with three runs in the bottom of the first inning game two to take a 3-0 lead.

Fishel would start the inning with a leadoff single, and Albanese would then reach first on a fielder's choice. After stealing third, Fishel would score on the throw. Wallace would then single to drive in Albanese as the first three batters reached base safely.

Sophomore Allie Hinton (Newcomerstown, OH) would drive in Wallace with a RBI single to left field.

Two freshmen pitchers, Haley Earl (Dyer, IN) and Alex Jander (Gahanna, OH), would combine to allow just one run through the first six innings. Earl would start the game, going five innings, allowing one run on five hits.

In the seventh inning though, FSU would score two runs on double to right field to tie the game at 3-3. The Bulldogs would then add two more runs in the eighth inning to take a 5-3 advantage.

Seeds would double down the left field line in the bottom of the eighth to score Wallace, who walked to leadoff the inning. That however, would be the only run the Panthers could scratch across, dropping game two, 5-4.

Wallace continued her strong play this weekend with two more hits, three runs scored, and she also drove in two runs.

Fishel logged three hits and three runs scored on the day, while Seeds added three hits and two RBI.

ODU will return to the friendly confines of Panther field for its next set of games, hosting Walsh for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14. The Panthers and Cavaliers were originally scheduled to play this past Wednesday, but the games were postponed due to weather.

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@ohiodominican.edu