COLUMBUS, Ohio – On Wednesday afternoon, the Ohio Dominican softball team welcomed Wheeling University for their home opener. In good fashion, the Black and Gold swept the Cardinals, 9-1 and 8-4.

Leading the way at the plate was Alexis Stevens (Marion, Ohio). The senior went 5-7, with a double, and six runs batted in. Stevens accounted for four runs and went 3-3 on stolen bases. Following her was Alli Madden (Cincinnati, Ohio) with four hits, including a triple. Madden went 2-2 on stolen bases.

Both Kendrick Sterling (Crothersville, Ind.) and Kaleigh Golden (Thornville, Ohio), tabbed four as well. Sterling snagged two doubles and five RBIs while Golden accounted for three runs. Emily Walker (Plain City, Ohio) and Lindsey Potter (Plain City, Ohio) each added three hits, including a double for both.

In the circle, Addison Smodilla (Terre Haute, Ind.) picked up a win in the first game, giving up only two hits and no earned runs. Marlee Jacobs (Plain City, Ohio) moves to 5-0 on the season after securing a win in the second game. Jacobs had seven strikeouts in her four innings. Grace Hammer (Uniontown, Ohio) added another save, grabbing four strikeouts in four innings.

Game One
The Black and Gold got on the board first in the bottom of the second after a leadoff single from Potter set the plate for an RBI double from Sterling. In the next inning, the Cardinals plated one to tie it up. In the bottom of the frame, the Panthers opened it up with back-to-back singles from Golden and Madden. A Steven's double scored both, making it 3-1. Sterling then singled to center field to push it to 4-1.

In the fourth inning, Golden secured another single, followed by a Lilly Irvine (Delaware, Ohio) walk, setting it up for a two-RBI single from Stevens. Walker and Potter followed with doubles to grow ODU's lead to 8-1. The next inning, Emily Holland (Mineral Ridge, Ohio) secured the run-rule with a leadoff solo home run, making it 9-1.

Game Two
Wheeling started off fast with a leadoff home run followed by two more hits to make it 2-0. ODU answered with three hits to cut their deficit in half. In the bottom of the third, Madden opened with a triple down the left field line. She scored off a Steven's single. Potter had an RBI single and later scored off a Sterling double. At the end of the frame, the Panthers led 5-2.

The Cardinals added another in the top of the fourth off a solo home run but the Black and Gold answered. Golden, Madden, and Stevens all singled, scoring one. Another Sterling single brought in two runs, growing the lead to 8-3.

In the top of the fifth, WU strung together three hits to make it 8-4. Ohio Dominican added two more hits and kept Wheeling scoreless to secure an 8-4 win.

Up Next
Ohio Dominican is set to host Trevecca Nazarene on Saturday afternoon. Updates can be found at our website and on our social media platforms.