HILLSDALE, Michigan – The Ohio Dominican softball team split its penultimate regular-season series against Hillsdale College on Friday afternoon winning game one by the score of 3-0 before falling by a 2-1 scoreline in eight innings in the series finale.

GAME ONE

The Chargers and Panthers locked up for another classic contest with G-MAC postseason implications. Both clubs were held scoreless until the top of the sixth inning. To that point, the Black and Gold had just one hit to its credit in the game and with the game getting into the latter stages had to act quickly to claim the victory.

Center fielder Alli Madden (Cincinnati, Ohio) reached base following an error by the Hillsdale shortstop to lead off the sixth inning. She moved to second following a sacrifice bunt from Madison Shemwell (Owensboro, Kentucky).

Freshman Kaleigh Golden (Thornville, Ohio) collected the second hit of the contest as she singled to left field opening the door up for Alexis Stevens (Marion, Ohio). Stevens reached on a fielder's choice and that allowed Madden to score and give the visitor's a 1-0 lead. A groundout from Erika Case (Holland, Ohio) doubled the lead to 2-0 as it opened the door for Golden to score.

The Panthers gained an insurance run as McKenna Conley (Mt. Orab, Ohio) singled to right center field, driving in Keirah Smetzer (Ashland, Ohio) to give the Black and Gold a 3-0 lead.

With runners on second and third Sydney Long (Ashland, Ohio) delivered a pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning that was lined back to Stevens, who doubled up the runner at second base to lift the Panthers to the 3-0 victory.  

GAME TWO

It was much of the same in the series finale as both teams struggled to drive home a run during the first four innings of the contest. Hillsdale fired the opening salvo in the bottom of the fifth inning with an RBI single that found its way to right field to give the Chargers the lead.

Stevens opened the top of the sixth inning with a single to right field. She would find her way to second base before advancing to third on a single from Braxton Downs (Louisville, Kentucky). Conley would pinch hit and drove in Stevens to level the game at 1-1.

An RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning allowed the Chargers to claim the walk off winner.

POSTSEASON POSSIBILITIES

ODU can still claim its first regular-season G-MAC title since 2019 on Saturday afternoon. A sweep over Tiffin University will grant the Black and Gold at least a share of the title. If the Panthers want to be outright regular-season champions, they will need some help. A sweep over Tiffin is paramount but fans of ODU softball will need to root for a series split between Hillsdale and the University of Findlay. Should those two institutions split that will lock up the title and a first-round bye for the Black and Gold heading into the conference tournament.

UP NEXT

ODU goes for glory against Tiffin on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1 PM.

Contact: Ralph Schudel
schudelr@ohiodominican.edu