COLUMBUS, Ohio – Behind 29 runs in two games, the Ohio Dominican softball team was able to take two wins against conference rival Malone on Tuesday afternoon, making it four consecutive wins for ODU.

The Panthers (11-33, 7-15 GLIAC) defeated the Pioneers (4-29, 1-22 GLIAC) by a final score of 18-6 in five innings in the opening game, recording at least 20 hits for the first time since a 20-4 victory over Malone last season. ODU completed the sweep with an 11-3 win in six innings in game two.

The Black and Gold slugged its way to a total of 29 runs on 34 hits in the two games. The 20 hits in game one fell just four shy of tying the school record. The Panthers finished the day with a team batting average of .586, including eight doubles and four home runs.

Senior Taylor Thomas (Bellville, OH) recorded a team high 12 total bases in the two games, going 5-of-8 at the plate. Thomas hit two home runs and one double, accounting for 10 total runs, with six RBI and four runs scored. She also tied the all-time school record for most hits in a game, recording four in the opener.

Freshman Taylor Kline (Bellville, OH) ran her hitting streak up to a season high 12 games, adding two hits in each contest. Kline also added to her conference high stolen base total, stealing three bases and running her total to 26.

Sophomore Kelly Wallace (Oshkosh, WI) added two hits in each game, logging a .800 batting average on the day. Wallace homered once, doubled twice, and scored and drove in four runs each.

Also going 4-for-5 at the plate was senior Brandis Fishel (Gahanna, OH). Fishel, the starting pitcher in the first game, threw a total of 4.2 innings, allowing just one run, striking out three batters. She would also throw 1.2 innings in the second game, as the Pioneer batters recorded a team average of just .125 on the day against her.

Senior Kelsey Seeds (Westerville, OH) went 2-for-3 in each contest, adding two runs scored.

Junior Kelsey Albanese (Westerville, OH) and senior Alex Cribari (Lyndhurst, OH) each recorded a multi-hit game as they both finished the with .500 batting averages for the day.

Hitting her first home run of the season, junior Lizzy Weber (Canton, OH) finished the day 3-of-5 at the plate, and tied Kline with a team high five total runs scored in the two games.

Freshman Alex Jander (Gahanna, OH) would record the win in the second game, running her season record to 3-1, as she has posted a win in each of her last three appearances.

ODU jumped out to an early 16-0 lead after two innings in the first game, aided by seven runs in the opening frame, and nine more runs in the second.

Kline would lead off the bottom of the first with a triple to right centerfield. After a Weber walk, Wallace would hit a three run home run to left field to start the scoring the Panthers.

RBI hits from Albanese, Fishel, and sophomore Allie Hinton (Newcomerstown, OH) would grow the Panther lead to 7-0.

The second inning would be highlighted by RBI doubles from Fishel and junior Brier Sanner (Hartville, OH). The inning was capped with another three run homer, this one coming from Thomas.

After Malone cut the deficit to 16-6, the Panthers would get RBI singles from Thomas and Sanner to grow the lead to 18-6.

ODU would take a 3-1 lead after the opening inning of game two, as Thomas would hit her second home run of the day, bringing in two runs.

The Panthers would add three more runs in the third, as Weber's home run drove in two runs, and Albanese laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Wallace.

Malone would rally in the fourth inning, cutting the lead to 6-3. ODU however, would add five more runs over the next two innings to seal the victory.

Weber would drive in three of those final five runs with a double to left center in the top of the sixth inning.

The Black and Gold will look to carry its offensive fire power into the weekend as they host Wayne State for a doubleheader at 3 p.m. on Friday at Panther Field.

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@ohiodominican.edu