FLORIDA - The Ohio Dominican softball team kicked off their spring break in Florida this week, competing in the 2025 Spring Games. The Panthers are set to play ten games throughout the week, beginning with matchups against Concordia-St. Paul and Grand Valley State on Friday. 

Game One Against Concordia-St. Paul (L, 0-3)

In their opening game, the Panthers faced the Golden Bears from Concordia-St. Paul. Freshman Emma Grau took the mound, pitching six innings while allowing five hits, three runs, and no walks. 

The Golden Bears took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Alexis Monty singled to reach base and later scored on an unearned run after Bryleigh Dana reached on a fielding error. 

Concordia-St. Paul extended their lead in the third inning when Emily Knoblauch crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly RBI from Riley Rosenthal, making it 2-0. They added an insurance run in the sixth when Ava Blake hit an RBI single up the middle, bringing in Ashlyn Peterson to secure a 3-0 victory. 

Ohio Dominican struggled offensively, managing just one hit from first baseman Shelby Flynn and failing to score. The Panthers will face Grand Valley State in their next game. 

Game Two Against Grand Valley State University (W, 2-1)

In their second game, the Panthers sent freshman Amelia Spidell to the mound against the Lakers. She delivered a strong performance, pitching all seven innings while allowing just five hits, one run, and one error, securing her second win of the season. 

Unlike their first game, the Panthers got on the board early in the first inning. Kaleigh Golden led off with a single to left field, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Erica Massey. Olivia Congleton then drove Golden home with a single down the left-field line, giving Ohio Dominican a 1-0 lead. In the third inning, the Panthers added another run when Congleton executed a sacrifice bunt RBI, allowing Massey to score after reaching base on a fielder's choice, extending the lead to 2-0. 

Grand Valley State responded in the fourth when Morgan Spicer doubled to left field and later scored on a wild pitch. However, that would be their only run of the game, as Spidell held strong to secure the 2-1 victory, improving her record to 2-2. 

Ohio Dominican finished with six hits, two runs, and two RBIs. Kaleigh Golden led the offense with two hits and a run scored, while Liana Morreale also recorded two hits. Leea Ibarra and Olivia Congleton each contributed a hit, with Congleton driving in both runs. 

DAY 2 Spring Games 

Game One Against Wayne State (L, 1-3)

To start day two of the 2025 Spring Games, freshman Amelia Spidell took the mound once again, this time facing Wayne State. She pitched 5.1 innings, allowing eight hits, three runs, and two walks. 

The game remained scoreless through the first two innings until Ohio Dominican broke through in the top of the third. Leea Ibarra singled to right center and stole second before Liana Morreale drove her in with a single down the left-field line, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead. 

Wayne State quickly responded in the bottom of the inning. Mady Ruczynski singled up the middle and later scored on a double to right center by Logan Forman, tying the game at 1-1. In the fifth inning, Ruczynski scored again, this time off a single through the right side by Katelyn DeWitt. Moments later, Forman crossed the plate on a single from Elly Koopman, securing a 3-1 victory for Wayne State. 

Ohio Dominican finished the game with six hits, one run, and one RBI. Kaleigh Golden led the offense with two hits, while Liana Morreale, Lilly Irvine, Erica Massey, and Leea Ibarra each contributed one hit. 

Game Two Against Point Park (W, 9-1)

The Panthers bounced back with a dominant performance in game two against the Point Park Pioneers. Junior Marlee Jacobs took the mound to close out the day, securing her third win of the season. She pitched five strong innings, allowing just one hit, one run, and three walks. 

Point Park struck first, scoring their only run in the top of the first when Mia Arndt drew a walk, allowing Remington Koi to cross the plate for a 1-0 lead. 

Ohio Dominican wasted no time responding, putting up four runs in the bottom of the first. Kendrick Sterling got things started with an RBI double to center field, scoring Addie Triplett. Erica Massey followed with an RBI single to center, bringing in Olivia Congleton. Emily Holland then capped off the inning with a two-run single to center, plating Massey and Sterling for a 4-1 advantage. 

The Panthers kept rolling in the second inning. Addie Triplett delivered an RBI single to center, scoring Kaleigh Golden. Olivia Congleton then grounded out to third but brought home Liana Morreale, extending the lead to 6-1. 

In the third inning, Emily Holland struck again, launching a two-run homer to center field, scoring Erica Massey and pushing the lead to 8-1. The Panthers added one final run in the fifth when Lilah Flores crossed the plate after Liana Morreale reached on an error, sealing a commanding 9-1 victory. 

Ohio Dominican finished the game with nine runs on nine hits, tallying eight RBIs and three walks in 24 at-bats. After these four games, Kaleigh Golden achieved a significant career milestone, recording 200 hits during her time at Ohio Dominican. 

The Panthers will return to action in Florida on Monday, taking on Shepherd University at 9 AM and Minnesota State Mankato at 11:15 AM.