COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Dominican softball team wrapped up their season with two games against Saginaw Valley State on Senior Day at Panther Field on Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers (12-36, 8-18 GLIAC) were unable to send the seniors away with a victory falling in the rainy conditions by the final scores of 10-4 and 8-2. The second game was called with one out in the top of the seventh due to the rain, so it will officially count as a six inning game.

ODU started all seven seniors in the opening contest as senior Brandis Fishel (Gahanna, OH) tied for the lead in hits by seniors, with two in three at-bats. Fishel also started in the pitching circle for the first game, and added another hit in the second contest.

Senior Taylor Thomas (Bellville, OH) also added two hits in the opening contest. Fishel and Thomas combined for two RBI and two runs scored in the first game. Thomas ends her career with a .333 batting average, 112 RBI, 35 doubles, and 24 home runs.

Seniors Devan Audette (Bronson, MI), Alex Cribari (Lyndhusrt, OH), and Kelsey Seeds (Westerville, OH) each logged a hit in the opening game for ODU.

Senior Alexis Swisher (Cincinnati, OH) reached base safely on a walk, and senior Taylor Mason (Belpre, OH) was unable to reach safely in three plate appearances.

Freshman Taylor Kline (Bellville, OH) added four hits on the day, including a 3-for-4 performance in the first game. Kline finished the year with the highest batting average for ODU at .429, becoming the first Panther to bat over .400 in a season since 2009, when now assistant coach Amanda Ritzler and Danielle Larson each accomplished the feat.

SVSU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in game one, but the Panthers responded with two runs of their own to tie the game 2-2 after the opening inning. Audette would double to right center driving in both Thomas and Fishel.

The Cardinals (27-16, 17-5 GLIAC) however, would score two more runs in the second, and then score three runs in both the third and fourth innings to take a 10-2 advantage.

ODU would only be able to add two more runs in the game, falling 10-4. Thomas would record a RBI single in the fifth, scoring Kline, and Fishel would drive in Seeds with a groundout in the seventh.

SVSU, just like the opening game, would score the first two runs, this time giving them a 2-0 lead after three innings.

The Panthers would respond for the second game in a row, tying the score 2-2 in the top of the fourth with a two run homer to left center from sophomore Allie Hinton (Newcomerstown, OH).

The Cardinals would add three runs in the fifth and one in the bottom of the sixth to take the second game 8-2.

This year's seniors helped lead the Panthers to a 51-21-1 record at home in their careers at Panther Field. The seven ladies also helped the Panthers capture their first conference championship since joining the NCAA Division II level, with a GLIAC crown and NCAA Midwest Regional appearance in the 2014 season. ODU compiled over 90 wins in the past four seasons.

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@ohiodominican.edu