HARROGATE, Tenn. – On Saturday, the Ohio Dominican softball team opened their 2024 campaign with a pair of games at the Lincoln Memorial Invitational. The Panthers split the day with a 3-0 loss to Purdue Northwest and a 5-3 win over Ferris State.
 
Seniors Emily Walker (Plain City, Ohio) and Alexis Stevens (Marion, Ohio) led the way with two hits each. Stevens, along with Emily Holland (Mineral Ridge, Ohio) and Kendrick Sterling (Crothersville, Ind.) recorded doubles while Lindsey Potter (Plain City, Ohio) grabbed a triple. Potter nabbed two RBIs while Alli Madden (Cincinnati, Ohio) secured two stolen bases.
 
Three different players saw time in the circle. Graduate Addison Smodilla (Terre Haute, Ind.) started the first game, collecting three strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched. Grace Hammer (Uniontown, Ohio) made her debut for the Black and Gold, pitching 6.2 innings through the two games and striking out nine. In the second game, Marlee Jacob (Plain City, Ohio) came in to pitch 3.0 innings and collected five strikeouts.
 
Game One
The Pride secured hits in the first two innings while keeping the Panthers off the bases in both. PNW plated two runs in the top of the third off two hits. Back-to-back flyouts left three stranded heading into the bottom half of the inning.
Saadie Maysonet (Worthington, Ohio) grabbed ODU's first hit in the bottom of the third but was stuck at second. Purdue Northwest pushed their lead to 3-0 in the fifth. In the bottom of the sixth, Walker tabbed a pinch hit single but was left on first. In the seventh inning, Hammer stopped the Pride with two strikeouts, but ODU couldn't rally in their last at bat, falling 3-0.
 
Game Two
With a chip on their shoulder, the Black and Gold came out strong in the opening inning with a Kalegh Golden (Thornville, Ohio) walk, followed by singles form Stevens and Walker. Walker tabbed an RBI while Stevens stole home to put ODU ahead 2-0.
More action continued in the top of the second as Sterling doubled, followed by a Gracie Jo Thompson (Ashville, Ohio) single and a Potter Triple that scored pinch runner Addie Triplett (Johnstown, Ohio) and Thompson, doubling their lead. Stevens doubled to left center, growing their lead to 5-0. FSU answered with a solo homerun to put them on the board.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Ferris State strung together three hits, scoring two runs to make it 5-3. In their last at bat, they had no answer, giving Ohio Dominican a 5-3 win.
 
Up Next
The Panthers return tomorrow at 2:00 PM where they take on Purdue Northwest again and later, Lincoln Memorial.