Box Score GAME ONE RECAP
GAME TWO RECAP
FINDLAY, Ohio -- Ohio Dominican softball's impressive Great Midwest Tournament run continued Saturday evening, as the Panthers rallied late to defeat Findlay, 4-3, earning the team's third elimination win of the day.
The Panthers three wins on the day improve them to 33-17 this spring. Findlay, who joined ODU in the top eight of the most recent NCAA Division II Midwest Regional ranking, has been eliminated from the conference tournament and is 36-14 overall.
Trailing 3-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Black & Gold were running out of opportunities to keep their 2021 G-MAC title defense alive. A two-out rally left the bases loaded though for ODU, and Madison Shemwell (Owensboro, Ky.) drove in the game-tying, and game-winning runs on a ground ball up the middle that got under the Oiler second baseman's glove.
Sydney Long (Ashland, Ohio) made her third pitching appearance of the day in the top of the seventh inning. Long retired the Oilers in order to secure the 4-3 victory for ODU. Long went a combined 10.1 innings, allowing only three hits and no runs, striking out nine batters. The senior also picked up a win and two saves.
Addison Smodilla (Terre Haute, Ind.) won two games on the day, the second coming in relief against Findlay. Smodilla conceded only one hit over three innings of work, improving to 14-6 on the season.
A McKenna Conley (Mt. Orab, Ohio) single tied the game at 1-1 after the first inning. Erika Case (Holland, Ohio) also drove in a run with a double in the tihrd inning to pull ODU within one run, 3-2.
Kaleigh Golden (Thornville, Ohio) collected two hits to lead the Panther offense, which outhit Findlay, 7-5.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will now get the opportunity to add to their trophy case, as a 2021 G-MAC Tournament Final rematch has been set. ODU and Trevecca will square off at 10 a.m., Sunday, May 8, in Findlay, Ohio. The Black & Gold will need two wins Sunday, while the Trojans just need one to claim the championship and automatic bid into the NCAA Division II National Tournament.
Contact: Tyler Jester
jestert@ohiodominican.edu
