OWENSBORO, KY – The Ohio Dominican softball team finished the 2022 Blue Bridge Battle by earning a Sunday split in contests against Wheeling University and Quincy University. ODU claimed a 3-0 victory in game one against Wheeling before falling to Quincy in game two by the score of 3-2.

GAME ONE

The Black and Gold did all its damage in the first inning, scoring three runs. Freshman Kaleigh Golden (Thornville, Ohio) opened the game with a single to right field. Braxton Downs (Louisville, Kentucky) followed with a double to left field that plated Golden to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

Madison Shemwell (Owensboro, Kentucky) followed by earning a walk that put her on first base. She advanced to second base on a wild pitch and Downs moved to third, putting both in scoring position. A wild pitch from Wheeling's Randi Holder allowed Downs to score and double the lead to 2-0.

An RBI single off the bat of Erika Case (Holland, Ohio) scored Shemwell and gave the Black and Gold a 3-0 lead.

Senior Sydney Long (Ashland, Ohio) pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out five batters in the winning effort.

GAME TWO

ODU returned to the diamond in game two and locked up with the Hawks.

Quincy fired an opening salvo as Casey Brennan hit a home run over the fence to give her team a 1-0 advantage. Another big fly from the Hawks doubled the lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning.

The Black and Gold mounted a response in the fourth inning, scoring in an unconventional way. Shemwell singled to center field in the top of the fourth inning and successfully stole second base, third base, and home plate to cut the lead to 2-1.

Alexis Stevens (Marion, Ohio) doubled to left-center field and would score after Case forced an error from the right fielder to tie the game at 2-2. A solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning halted the Black and Gold comeback as Quincy claimed a 3-2 victory.

UP NEXT

The Panthers return to action next weekend battling Lindenwood University, the University of Illinois Springfield, and Quincy. The action begins Thursday, March 3 with first pitch scheduled for 2 PM.

CONTACT: Ralph Schudel
schudelr@ohiodominican.edu