By Sports Information Intern Aaron McPherson

SAULT STE. MARIE, Michigan— Ohio Dominican's softball team earned a 6-3 win in game one and a 7-3 victory in game two of a doubleheader at Lake Superior State on Friday.

The Panthers (22-26, 9-13 GLIAC) have won four-straight games including five of their last six contests and remain in contention for a GLIAC tournament berth.  

In game one, ODU used six runs on eight hits to earn a 6-3 victory. Freshman Abby Lamping (Cleves, OH) picked up her 10th win of the season, giving up just two earned runs in seven innings in the circle.

Lake Superior State started strong in game one, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-0 lead.

But Ohio Dominican responded in the top of the second, as senior Brier Sanner (Hartville, OH) led off the inning with a double, then a fielding error allowed senior Julia Suyak (Trenton, MI) to reach first and Sanner to reach third. Sophomore Taylor Kline (Bellville, OH) reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Sanner to cut the Panther deficit to 3-1.

In the top of the fifth trailing 3-1, Kline singled to center field and senior Montana Fishel (Gahanna, OH) reached on a fielder's choice in the next at bat, giving the Panthers two baserunners with one out. After a fielder's choice by senior Kelsey Albanese (Westerville, OH) loaded the bases, junior Casey Murdoch (Morrow, OH) hit a grand slam home run to score Kline, Fishel and Albanese and give the Panthers a 5-3 lead.

In the top of the seventh, an error by the catcher allowed Albanese to advance to second and Fishel to score, giving ODU a 6-3 lead. Lamping retired all three batters in order in the bottom of the seventh, earning the win, 6-3.

Ohio Dominican used nine hits to power its way to a 7-3 victory in game two of the doubleheader. Sophomore Haley Earl (Dyer, IN) picked up her second win of the year, while Murdoch pitched the final three innings and recorded her first save of the season.

Kline began the game for the Panthers with a single to center field, then stole second. A groundout by Fishel advanced Kline to third, then two batters later, Albanese reached second after an error by the second baseman and Kline scored, giving ODU a 1-0 lead. After Albanese advanced to third by way of a wild pitch, Murdoch doubled, scoring Albanese to extend the Panther advantage to 2-0 through one.

In the bottom of the third leading 2-1, Kline led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch, then Albanese singled for a bunt to score Kline, giving ODU a 3-1 lead.

Leading 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Kline led off the inning with a hit for the third time, this time a single up the middle followed by another stolen base. Fishel reached first in the next at bat by way of an error by the catcher, then stole second, setting the stage for a single by Albanese and an error by the right fielder to score Fishel and Kline, extending ODU's advantage to 5-2.

Lake Superior State added another run in the top of the sixth to cut the deficit to 5-3, but Ohio Dominican responded again in the bottom of the inning. With the bases loaded, junior Kelly Wallace (Oshkosh, WI) singled to center field and advanced to second on the throw, scoring Fishel and Kline to give Ohio Dominican a game-clinching, 7-3 lead. Murdoch finished the game in the seventh, earning the save and the fourth-straight win for Ohio Dominican.

Albanese went two-of-four in game one and four-of-four with three RBIs in game two. Kline went four-of-eight on the day and stole two bases in game two. Murdoch recorded a hit in each game and finished the day with five RBIs.

Ohio Dominican closes its regular season on Saturday with a doubleheader at Northwood beginning at 1 p.m.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu