By Sports Information Intern Aaron McPherson

CLERMONT, Fla. — Ohio Dominican fell to West Liberty 7-2 and Minnesota State Mankato 2-0 on Thursday at the NTC Spring Games.

The Panthers (6-10) are currently 5-3 at the NTC Spring Games and have won five of their last seven contests.

In game one of the day, ODU's fifth-inning rally fell short in a 7-2 loss to West Liberty. Trailing 3-0 in the top of the fifth, Ohio Dominican junior pitcher Casey Murdoch (Morrow, Ohio) singled to right center field to drive in sophomore Taylor Kline (Bellville, Ohio) and sophomore Liz Sutter (Mansfield, Ohio), cutting the Panther deficit to just 3-2.

But West Liberty responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs to extend its advantage to 7-2 which it maintained en route to the win.

ODU recorded six hits in the game. Kline went two-for-three to record her eighth game with two hits or more. Senior Montana Fishel (Gahanna, Ohio), freshman Kylie Dempsey (Liberty Township, Ohio), Sutter and Murdoch finished with one hit each.

The Panthers dropped game two of the day 2-0 to Minnesota St. Mankato (13-5). The Mavericks' two runs came in the fifth and sixth innings.

Sophomore pitcher Bailey Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio) went all six innings in the circle for Ohio Dominican, giving up two earned runs on five hits while also recording one of the Panthers' two hits in the game.

Kline recorded one hit in the game, marking her 12th consecutive game with a hit. Overall, she has hit in 15 of ODU's 16 games this year.

The Panthers will look to get back in the win column on Friday, facing Charleston (10-2) at 1 p.m. and Trevecca Nazarene (9-11) at 3 p.m.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu