By Sports Information Intern Aaron McPherson

CLERMONT, Fla. — Ohio Dominican's softball team used strong pitching and timely offense to capture their fourth and fifth-straight wins of the season, defeating Urbana 5-0 and Cedarville 4-2 on Tuesday.

The Panthers (6-8) have won five in a row to tie their longest win streak since April 2014 and are currently 5-1 on their spring break trip to the NTC Spring Games.

ODU faced Urbana in its first contest of the day and took control early. Sophomore Taylor Kline (Bellville, Ohio) led off the game with a successful bunt for a single to get on base and then showed her strong base-running ability, advancing to second and then getting home after a strikeout and groundout to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead after one.

Senior Brier Sanner (Hartville, Ohio) led off the second inning with a double down the left field line and then stole third. Senior Montana Fishel (Gahanna, Ohio) picked up an RBI single on the next at bat to score Sanner and give ODU a 2-0 lead.

In the third, the Panthers recorded a lead off base hit for the third straight inning, as Kline tripled to center field. A single by senior Kelsey Albanese (Westerville, Ohio) scored Kline for the second time in the game and Fishel got in on the action later in the inning with an RBI single to score Sanner, giving the Panthers a 5-0 lead through three which they carried through for the win. 

Sophomore pitcher Bailey Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio) went all seven innings, recording four strikeouts and not allowing a run in her first win of the year.

In game two against Cedarville, the Panthers scored all four of its game deciding runs in the third inning. Trailing 1-0 going into the third, junior Casey Murdoch (Morrow, Ohio) tied the game with an RBI groundout that sent freshman Kylie Dempsey (Liberty Township, Ohio) home to tie the game 1-1.

In the next at bat, Albanese homered for the second time in three games, blasting a three-run shot to left field to build the Panthers lead to 4-1.

Freshman pitcher Abby Lamping (Cleves, Ohio) and the Ohio Dominican defense took it from there, allowing just one run in the remaining four innings to win 4-2.

The Panthers have surrendered just eight runs in their last five games and currently boast a .961 fielding percentage, better than their opponents mark of .955.

Lamping is currently 4-2 with a 2.54 ERA in 41.1 innings and has been victorious in each of her last four starts.

Kline is batting .438 through the first 14 games with six stolen bases and has recorded a hit in 10 consecutive games.  

The Panthers look to continue their success at the NTC Spring Games with contests Thursday against West Liberty at 3 p.m. and Minnesota State Mankato at 7 p.m.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu