COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican softball team hosted the Cavaliers of Walsh University on Tuesday afternoon. The Panthers run-ruled the Cavaliers in game one, 10-2, and completed the weep in game two, 5-3.

Senior Braxton Downs (Louisville, Ky.) had another big night going 6-7 from the plate with two doubles and two runs batted in. Kendick Sterling (Crothersville, Ind.) collected five RBIs with a double and a walk-off three-run homerun to end game one. Gracie Jo Thompson (Ashville, Ohio) snagged two doubles as well and two RBIs.

Both pitchers got it done in the circle today. Freshman Marlee Jacobs (Plain City, Ohio) allowed no earned runs in 6.0 innings and grabbed five strikeouts. Addison Smodilla (Terre Haute, Ind.) only allowed four hits in 7.0 innings, netted two strikeouts, and had four putouts and three assists in the field.

Game One

The Black and Gold opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning with back-to-back doubles from Emily Holland (Mineral Ridge, Ohio) and Thompson. Makaila Moses (Lancaster, Ohio) grabbed her first hit of the day, scoring Thompson, giving ODU a 2-0 lead.

In the next frame, Walsh got on the board after an error and a single up the middle, making it 2-1. Alexis Stevens (Marion, Ohio) led the bottom of the third inning off with a walk. A single from Downs moved her into scoring position. A sacrifice fly from Sterling grew Ohio Dominican's lead to 3-1.

The Panthers opened the bottom of the fifth with consecutive singles and reaching on an error to load the bases. A double to right center from Saadie Maysonet (Worthington, Ohio) scored two, making it 5-1. An error and a sacrifice bunt scored two more, extended the Black and Gold's lead to 7-1.

The Cavaliers added to their score in the top of the sixth off of two errors, bringing it to 7-2. In the bottom of the sixth, Stevens walked and Downs singled to set the plate for a three-run homerun from Sterling, walking it off in six innings, 10-2.

Game Two

Kaleigh Golden (Thornville, Ohio) began the second game with a leadoff single to center field, snagging her second hit of the day. In the bottom of the following frame, Downs and Sterling both doubles, scoring a run in the process, making it 1-0.

Walsh took the lead 3-1 in the top of the third inning after stringing together three hits. ODU answered with two hits and a run, cutting their deficit to 3-2. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Panthers strung together three hits, scoring two runs off of a single to right center from Moses.

Ohio Dominican's lead continued to grow in the bottom of the fifth inning after a double from Downs scored Alli Madden (Cincinnati, Ohio), making it 5-3. Walsh had no answered in their next to at bats, allowing ODU to complete the sweep with a 5-3 victory.

Up Next

Ohio Dominican hits the road to take on the Arrows of Ursuline College tomorrow afternoon at Ursuline Softball Field.