ASHLAND, Ohio – Just one day removed from an extra-inning affair against the University of Findlay, the Ohio Dominican softball team returned to action on the road in conference play against Ashland University on Wednesday afternoon. The Black and Gold tallied an impressive 17 runs en route to a doubleheader sweep of the Eagles.

GAME ONE

ODU began strong as Madison Shemwell (Owensboro, Kentucky) collected the first base hit of the afternoon for the visitors. A sacrifice moved her into scoring position, opening up the door for Alexis Stevens (Marion, Ohio). The Panther shortstop placed the ball into right-center field to drive in Shemwell and give her team the 1-0 lead.

Stevens advanced to third following a double off the bat of Braxton Downs (Louisville, Kentucky) to put runners in scoring position. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Erika Case (Holland, Ohio) drove in Stevens and gave the Black and Gold a 2-0 advantage.

Ashland struck back for a run in the bottom of the inning to trim the advantage to 2-1.

The Panthers added two more runs as Marley McDonald (Dublin, Ohio) singled to left-center field to drive in a run. An RBI double from Shemwell later in the inning plated two and gave the visitors a 4-1 lead.

AU wouldn't go quietly as the hosts trimmed the lead to 4-2 but home runs in back-to-back innings from Case and Stevens provided the insurance needed to lift the visitors to a 6-2 victory.

Sydney Long (Ashland, Ohio) improved her record to 7-5 by tossing another complete game and striking out 10 batters while allowing just two runs.

GAME TWO

ODU demonstrated great offensive prowess in game two, striking for five runs in the first three innings. As she did in the first game, Shemwell opened the series finale with a single. A free pass to Stevens put runners at first and third and the Black and Gold executed a perfect double steal that plated a runner.

Baylee Adams (Cardington, Ohio) worked hard and was issued a free pass as that drove in the visitor's second run of the contest.

It was more of the same for the visitors as Case opened the third inning with a double to left-center field. Ashland native Keirah Smetzer (Ashland, Ohio) was put on base with a walk and was driven in when pitcher Addison Smodilla (Terre Haute, Indiana) helped her own cause with an RBI single to left-center field. A walk and a sac fly added two-run and gave the Black and Gold a 5-0 advantage heading into the middle innings.

Speaking of Smodilla, she tossed a gem, allowing just two hits in seven innings of work.

Following a walk to Shemwell in the fifth inning, freshman Kaleigh Golden (Thornville, Ohio) earned her first collegiate triple to drive in a run. The freshman right fielder would also steal home plate to put the Panthers up seven runs.

The Black and Gold experienced a power surge in the top of the seventh inning, striking for four runs. Alli Madden (Cincinnati, Ohio) opened the inning with a single to right-center field and promptly stole second base.

Golden singled to left field and stole second base shortly after. An RBI single from Stevens, a sacrifice fly from Downs, and a home run from Case gave the visitors a commanding 11-0 advantage that proved too much for the Eagles and lifted the visitors to their fifth victory in G-MAC competition.

UP NEXT

ODU returns to the friendly confines of Sunbury Road to welcome Lake Erie College to the capital city. Doubleheader action begins at 12 PM on Sunday afternoon.

Contact: Ralph Schudel
schudelr@ohiodominican.edu