COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican softball team welcomed GLIAC competitor Saginaw Valley State to Panther Field on Monday afternoon. The Panthers swept the Cardinals, 2-1 and 8-1.

The Black and Gold combined for 16 hits on the day with 10 coming in the nightcap. Kaleigh Golden (Thornville, Ohio) and Alexis Stevens (Marion, Ohio) each snagged two hits in the opening game going 2-3 from the plate. Junior Alli Madden (Cincinnati, Ohio) went 3-4 in the second game with a double and a triple. Senior Braxton Downs (Louisville, Ky.) knotted five RBIs with a two-run homerun in the final game.

In the circle, freshman Marlee Jacobs (Plain City, Ohio) retired five in seven innings, giving up only three hits to collect her eighth win of the season. Senior Addison Smodilla (Terre Haute, Ind.) collected a career-high 10 strikeouts in her seven innings on the rubber. Smodilla picked up her third win of her senior campaign.

Game One

The Panthers struck first in the bottom of the opening frame after a single from Stevens drove in Golden, taking a 1-0 lead. The Cardinals responded in the top of the third with a solo homerun.

In the bottom of the fourth, a sacrifice bunt from Saadie Maysonet (Worthington, Ohio) scored Downs, giving ODU a 2-1 edge. The Panthers remained strong on the defensive end and pulled out the 2-1 win.

Game Two

In the bottom of the first inning, Madden tripled to center field but was left stranded at third. The Black and Gold got on the board in the bottom of the third scoring Golden on an error and a two-run homer from Downs, giving ODU a 3-0 lead.

SVSU answered in the top of the next inning scoring off of two hits, bringing it to 3-1. In the bottom of the fifth, Ohio Dominican snagged three more runs, opening with back-to-back hits from Madden and Stevens. A single from Kendrick Sterling (Crothersville, Ind.) scored Downs to extend the ODU lead, 6-1.

More of the same occurred in the bottom of the sixth with the Black and Gold adding three more hits and two more runs, making it 8-1 entering the final inning. The Panthers retired the Cardinals to take an 8-1 win, completing the sweep.

Up Next

Ohio Dominican opens conference play this weekend at Tiffin on Saturday and at Findlay on Sunday.

Contact: Bailee Worley

worleyb@ohiodominican.edu