COLUMBUS, Ga. – On the first day of the NFCA Division II Leadoff Classic, the Ohio Dominican softball team faced Missouri Western St. to begin the day and ended it with Charleston (W.V). The Panthers fell to the Griffons, 8-1, but battled back in game two and beat the Golden Eagles, 3-2.

At the plate, Alexis Stevens (Marion, Ohio) and Kendrick Sterling (Crothersville, Ind.) led the way with three hits each. Sterling went 2-4 in game one and Stevens went 2-4 in game two. Olivia Congleton (Belpre, Ohio) had the only extra-base hit with a double against the Griffons.

On the mound, Marlee Jacobs (Plain City, Ohio) picked up her second win of the season. The freshman struck out five batters, allowing six hits, and had a 1.00 ERA.

Game One

MWSU scored first in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the frame, ODU matched the score after the Griffons pitcher walked in a run. Missouri Western added two more in the top of the next inning, taking their lead to 3-1.

The Griffons continued to roll at the plate collecting 12 hits and scoring in every inning, besides the six. The Black and Gold battled, but fell short despite grabbing ten hits. The Panthers fell 8-1 in the opening game.

Game Two

Ohio Dominican jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, stringing together three hits. Sterling and Kaleigh Golden (Thornville, Ohio) each snagged an RBI. The Golden Eagles answered with a score of their own in the bottom of the frame, bringing it to 2-1.

Freshman Katie Barnhart (North Ridgeville, Ohio) led the second inning off with a single to the left side. A sacrifice fly from Alli Madden (Cincinnati, Ohio) score Barnhart, growing the Panther lead to 3-1. Charleston rallied in the bottom of the fourth, stringing together three hits and scoring another run to trail only one.

Jacobs remained a force on the mound, keeping the Golden Eagles from scoring the rest of the game and collecting the 3-2 win for Ohio Dominican.

Up Next

The Black and Gold return for day two of the Leadoff Classic Saturday morning with Gannon at 10:00 AM and Bridgeport at 12:30 PM.

Contact: Bailee Worley
worleyb@ohiodominican.edu