COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Dominican softball team hosted the Findlay Oilers for a doubleheader at Panther Field this afternoon. Unfortunately for the Panthers, they were defeated in both games, falling 7-5 in the first and 6-3 in the second. 

Game One (L, 7-5) 

In the opening game, pitcher Emma Grau started for Ohio Dominican, tossing 1.2 innings, allowing seven hits, seven runs, and striking out two. Marlee Jacobs came in for relief, pitching 5.1 innings, surrendering only one hit and no runs or walks while keeping the Oilers scoreless. 

Offensively, the Panthers recorded eight hits and scored five runs, adding three RBIs and two walks in 29 at-bats. Kendrick Sterling led the offense with three hits, including two home runs and three RBIs. Kaleigh Golden contributed two hits, and Erica Massey, Avery Mueller, and Addie Triplett each had one. 

How It Happened
Findlay struck first in the opening inning when Annika Bredel homered to left field. Ohio Dominican quickly responded, with Golden leading off the bottom half of the inning with a double to center field. Golden later scored on a catcher's error while Massey attempted to steal second base. The Panthers then took a 3-1 lead when Sterling hit a two-run homer, scoring herself and Olivia Congleton. 

Findlay regained the lead in the second inning, starting with a home run by Kora Navarro to make it 3-2. The Oilers continued to build their lead with a three-run double from Anna Jones, putting Findlay ahead 5-3. Alexys Antal doubled in the next at-bat to allow Jones to score, and Findlay added one more run when Joslynne Frazier singled to center, bringing Antal home. 

Ohio Dominican showed signs of a comeback in the fourth inning, with Sterling hitting a solo home run to cut the deficit to 7-4. The Panthers' final run came when Golden reached base on an error, allowing Avery Mueller to score. However, Findlay held on for the 7-5 victory, handing Ohio Dominican their first conference loss. 

Game Two (L, 6-3) 

In game two, Marlee Jacobs again took the mound for Ohio Dominican, pitching 2.1 innings, allowing four hits, five runs, and one walk. Liana Morreale relieved her, tossing 3.2 innings, giving up three hits, one run, and striking out three. Lilly Irvine pitched the final inning, allowing just one hit and no runs. 

The Panthers recorded seven hits, three runs, and three RBIs in the second game. Golden, Massey, Morreale, Sterling (who homered again), Mueller, Emily Holland, and Triplett each contributed a hit. Sterling finished the day with three home runs. 

How It Happened
Findlay jumped out to a quick lead in the second inning when Makayla Cook singled to center to score Anna Jones. The Oilers extended their lead in the third when Jones hit a grand slam to left-center field, putting Findlay up 5-0. 

Ohio Dominican got on the board in the fifth inning, as Golden doubled to center field to score Triplett, and Morreale followed with a single to bring Golden home, narrowing the score to 5-2. 

In the top of the sixth inning, Findlay responded with a homerun from Hannah Baker to make it 6-2. Sterling hit another solo home run in the bottom of the inning, completing the Panthers' scoring at 6-3. 

Up Next
With the two-game sweep, Ohio Dominican's record now stands at 12-16 overall and 2-2 in G-MAC play. The Panthers will look to bounce back when they travel to the University of Indianapolis for a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 26.