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Box Score 2 INDIANAPOLIS – For the second time in as many years the Ohio Dominican softball team claimed a victory over a top-five nationally-ranked opponent. The Black and Gold claimed a 4-0 over No.2 University of Indianapolis on Tuesday afternoon before falling to the Greyhounds in the series finale.
The victory is their first against a top-five ranked opponent since defeating No.5 UIndy in April 2021. It also is the highest ranked opponent that ODU has defeated in program history. Furthermore, the win also gives the 2022 Panthers the distinction of having the second longest winning streak in the Division II Era. The longest winning streak came in 2018 when the Black and Gold collected 19 consecutive wins.
GAME ONE
It was a pitcher's duel to begin game one as Sydney Long (Ashland, Ohio) and Kenzee Smith didn't allow a run to cross home plate thru the first three innings. ODU struck for the first run of the contest in the top of the fourth inning when Erika Case (Holland, Ohio) collected the Panthers second hit of the contest when she hit a single to center field. Head coach Marcella Vanlandingham went to her bench and called upon freshman Sidney Jackson (Lewisburg, Ohio) to pinch run.
Jackson didn't have to wait long on base as she was driven home off an RBI double off the bat of Braxton Downs (Louisville, Kentucky). The at-bat from Downs gave the visitors a 1-0 advantage.
The lead was doubled in the sixth inning as Case reached base once again, this time due to an error from the third basemen. Following walks to Downs and Baylee Adams (Cardington, Ohio) the bases were loaded for Keirah Smetzer (Ashland, Ohio).
She reached base on a fielder's choice but some chaos in the infield led to a throwing error which allowed Case to score and double the lead to 2-0.
Downs doubled the lead to 4-0 with her third home run in the last six contests in the top of the seventh inning.
Long and the Panthers survived a late run from the Greyhounds but snuffed out the rally to capture the 4-0 and 15th consecutive victory.
GAME TWO
UIndy struck for runs in the second and third innings before another home run from Downs cut the host's lead in half. The Greyhounds rebounded to score six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to capture a game two victory.
UP NEXT
The Black and Gold resume G-MAC play in a contest with major conference championship implications. ODU battles Hillsdale College on Friday, April 29 in a doubleheader.
First pitch is scheduled for 1 PM.
Contact: Ralph Schudel
schudelr@ohiodominican.edu
