FINDLAY, Ohio -- The Ohio Dominican softball team scored five runs in the first three innings to stave off elimination for the second time on Saturday, May 7, defeating Ursuline in Great Midwest Tournament action, 5-3. 

The Panthers improve to 32-17 overall, while the sixth-seeded Arrows conclude their season at 14-25. Ohio Dominican is now 2-1 in the G-MAC Tournament, as the team looks to continue its 2021 title defense. 

ODU outhit Ursuline 9-6 in the game, recording seven of their hits in the first three innings of play. Both teams scored in the first inning. Madison Shemwell (Owensboro, Ky.) doubled to lead off the bottom of the first and later scored on a sac bunt by Braxton Downs (Louisville, Ky.) to tie the game at 1-1. 

The first three batters of the second inning for the Black & Gold reached safely, with Keirah Smetzer (Ashland, Ohio) driving in a pair with a line drive single to right field. Alexis Stevens (Marion, Ohio) then drove in two additional Panther runs with a one-out single in the third, giving ODU a 5-1 lead. 

Stevens and McKenna Conley (Mt. Orab, Ohio) each had two hits to lead the Panther offensive attack. 

Addison Smodilla (Terre Haute, Ind.) started the game in the circle, tossing 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, with two strikeouts. Smodilla is now 13-6 this spring, including two against Ursuline, and has won 9 of her last 11 appearances.

Leading 5-3, UC loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fifth. Sydney Long (Ashland, Ohio), who earned the win in ODU's first game of the day, entered the circle in relief. The senior induced a ground out to first base to preserve the Panther advantage. Long did not allow a hit over 2.1 innings to record her second save of 2022. 

UP NEXT

Ohio Dominican will now play its third elimination game of the day at 4:30 p.m., when it faces Findlay. The Oilers defeated the Panthers 2-1 in ODU's first G-MAC Tournament game. The winner of Saturday's contest will advance to Sunday's Championship against Trevecca Nazarene. 

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@ohiodominican.edu