COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Dominican softball team hosted two G-MAC opponents at Panther Field over the weekend, celebrating Senior Day against Ursuline and closing out the regular season with a doubleheader against Lake Erie. The Panthers completed a weekend sweep, defeating Ursuline 10-2 (in five innings) and 7-3, and dominating Lake Erie with 7-1 and 7-0 victories.

Ursuline DoubleHeader (Sweep)

On Saturday, the Panthers earned their fourth sweep of the season, defeating Ursuline while honoring seniors Kaleigh Golden, Marlee Jacobs, Liana Morreale, Shelby Flynn, and Emily Holland.

Game One (W, 10-2, 5 innings)

Senior Marlee Jacobs started in game one, pitching all five innings. She allowed just four hits and two runs across 19 at-bats while striking out six. Notably, Jacobs recorded her 300th career strikeout during the second inning—a major milestone on Senior Day.

Offensively, the Panthers racked up 13 hits and 10 runs, with nine RBIs. Freshman Avery Mueller and Erica Massey led the offense with three hits apiece, while seniors Liana Morreale and Kaleigh Golden each added two hits.

How It Happened

ODU got on the board early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Massey drove in the first run with a single to left field, followed by a Kendrick Sterling RBI single to left, scoring Massey. Sterling later stole second, allowing Emily Holland to score the third run in.

By the second inning, Avery Mueller singled to bring home Morreale, followed by a sacrifice fly from Massey and a double from Holland, pushing the lead to 6-0.

The Panthers added another run in the third when Saadie Maysonet reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Massey. Ursuline managed their only two runs in the fourth with a two-run double. ODU sealed the win in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single from Mueller and a double from Massey, ending the game 10-2 after five innings.

Game Two (W, 7-3)

To cap off Senior Day, the Panthers completed the sweep with a 7-3 win in game two. Senior Liana Morreale started in the circle, pitching two innings and allowing four hits. Freshman Emma Grau came in for relief, pitching five scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits and striking out four.

At the plate, ODU collected nine hits and scored seven runs with five RBIs. Mueller's hot bat continued as she led the team with three hits, two runs, and two RBIs. Massey and Sterling chipped in two hits each, while Grau added a triple.

How It Happened

Both teams scored early in game two. Ursuline took a 2-0 lead with a double to center field in the top of the first. ODU responded quickly—Mueller smashed a two-run homer to tie the game, and Massey scored on a wild pitch to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead.

Ursuline tied it again with a solo home run in the second inning, but the Panthers took control in the third. With the bases loaded, Flynn was hit by a pitch to score a run. Maysonet followed with an RBI groundout, Sterling scored on a wild pitch, and Grau ripped a triple to right center to add another insurance run, making it 7-3.

The Panthers held Ursuline scoreless the rest of the way, locking down their 23rd win of the season with strong defense and pitching.
 

Lake Erie Doubleheader (Sweep)

A day later, the Panthers wrapped up their regular season ahead of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Tournament, which begins Wednesday, April 30. ODU completed another sweep, this time over Lake Erie.

Game One (W, 7-1)

Marlee Jacobs started in the circle for game one, pitching a complete seven innings. She allowed just five hits and one run while striking out four, earning her ninth win of the season. Offensively, the Panthers totaled 11 hits and seven runs, recording six RBIs across 25 at-bats.

How It Happened

Both teams got on the board in the first inning. Lake Erie scored first on an unearned run, but Kaleigh Golden quickly responded, reaching base with a single and later scoring on a sacrifice bunt from Erica Massey.

ODU's offense exploded in the fifth and sixth innings, combining for six runs. In the fifth, Avery Mueller doubled to left field, bringing home Golden and Morreale. In the sixth, Evan Platfoot stole home, Olivia Congleton doubled to left-center, and Liana Morreale tripled to score Congleton, sealing the 7-1 win.

Game Two (W, 7-0)

The Panthers closed out the weekend — and their regular season — with a 7-0 shutout in game two, earning their 25th win of the year.

Emma Grau dominated in the circle, throwing a one-hit shutout with eight strikeouts on just 64 pitches, earning her 13th win of her debut season. ODU's offense stayed strong, tallying 10 hits and seven runs with five RBIs. Senior Emily Holland led the way at the plate, collecting three hits, including two doubles and a home run, and driving in three runs. Seniors Kaleigh Golden and Liana Morreale also contributed with two hits each.

How It Happened

ODU jumped out early, with Holland doubling to left-center in the first inning to bring in Golden. In the third, the Panthers extended their lead with three more runs: Morreale stole home while Golden advanced on a steal, Mueller added an RBI single, and Holland doubled again, this time to right-center, making it 4-0.

The Panthers tacked on three more runs in the fifth. Erica Massey lined a triple down the left field line, scoring Golden and in the same play, scoring herself following an error by Lake Erie's outfield. Holland capped her big game at the plate with a solo home run to left-center, sealing the 7-0 victory and completing the senior weekend sweep.

Looking Ahead

Ohio Dominican now turns its focus to the G-MAC Tournament, where the Panthers will face Northwood on Wednesday at noon at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio.