CLERMONT, Fla. – Ohio Dominican's softball team fended off a late Charleston rally to defeat the Golden Eagles 5-4 Friday afternoon. The Panthers then suffered a narrow 3-2 setback to Trevecca Nazarene in their second game of the day.

Against Charleston, ODU struck first with four runs in the opening frame. Sophomore Taylor Kline (Bellville, Ohio) walked, stole second and scored on a throwing error to start the inning. Kelsey Albanese (Westerville, Ohio) and Abby Lamping (Cleves, Ohio) each had RBI basehits and freshman Kylie Dempsey (Liberty Township, Ohio) walked with the bases loaded to bring home the fourth run.

ODU tacked on another run in the third as Lamping and Casey Murdoch (Morrow, Ohio) started the inning with singles, with Lamping scoring on another UC error to make it 5-0.

Charleston scored once in the fifth, then plated three runs in the sixth to close within 5-4 before ODU ended the inning with a double play.

UC managed a one out single in the seventh, but a ground out and a fly out ended the game in ODU's favor.

Lamping started in the circle and picked up the win as she allowed two runs in 5.1 innings. Sophomore Haley Earl (Dyer, Ind.) went the final 1.2 innings, yielding just one hit, as she earned the save.

The Panthers finished with 12 hits compared to eight for Charleston. Senior Julia Suyak (Trenton, Mich.) went 3-for-4 at the dish while Albanese, senior Brier Sanner (Hartville, Ohio), Lamping and Murdoch each recorded a pair of hits.

ODU again struck first against Trevecca Nazarene, scoring twice in the first inning, but the Panthers were limited to just one hit the rest of the way as they lost by a 3-2 score to the Trojans for the second time this year.

Albanese and sophomore Bailey Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio) each had RBI singles in the opening inning, but the Panthers left the bases loaded and could not strike for more.

Miller blanked TNU for the first four innings, but the Trojans strung together three hits in the fifth, including a two-run double, to take a 3-2 lead.

The Panthers had a runner reach second base in both the sixth and seventh innings but could not push across the tying run.

Kline had a hit and drew two walks in four plate appearances to lead the offense.

Ohio Dominican concludes its spring trip with games against Bentley (9 a.m.) and Franklin Pierce (11 a.m.) on Saturday.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu