COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Dominican softball team (16-20, 6-4 GMAC) hosted the Ashland Eagles (20-10, 10-2 GMAC) after last weekend's games were postponed due to rain and field conditions. On a chilly day, the Panthers earned a split—dropping a close 5-4 decision in game one before dominating game two with an 8-1 victory. 

Game One (L, 5-4)
Marlee Jacobs took the mound for the Panthers, pitching a complete game. She allowed seven hits, five runs, two walks, and recorded two strikeouts. Offensively, ODU tallied nine hits in 28 at-bats, scoring four runs and drawing five walks. Erica Massey led the charge with three RBIs and three hits, while Avery Mueller contributed an RBI and two hits. 

How It Happened
Ashland struck early, leading off the game with a home run and adding three more runs in the second inning off two singles. 

ODU responded in the bottom of the third when sophomore Erica Massey lined a double to center field, bringing in Avery Mueller and Kaleigh Golden to cut the deficit to 4-2. In the fourth inning, Mueller singled up the left side to score Marlee Jacobs, making it a one-run game. 

Ashland added a solo homer in the fifth to extend their lead to 5-3. ODU answered in the sixth when Massey delivered another RBI single, this time scoring freshman Halina Schulte. Neither team scored in the seventh, giving Ashland the narrow win in game one. 

Game Two (W, 8-1)
The Panthers came out firing in game two, handing Ashland just their second conference loss of the season in an 8-1 rout. 

Freshman Emma Grau started in the circle for ODU and earned her eighth win of the year. She was dominant through all seven innings, allowing just two hits and one run with no walks and four strikeouts. Offensively, ODU matched their hit total from game one with nine, converting them into eight runs on 26 at-bats. 

Leea Ibarra led the offense with four RBIs, while Kendrick Sterling and Emily Holland each added an RBI. 

How It Happened
The Panthers exploded for six runs in the first inning. Sterling kicked things off with a perfectly executed suicide squeeze that brought Mueller home. Moments later, Ibarra launched a grand slam to stretch the lead to 5-0. Immediately after, senior Emily Holland followed up with a solo homer of her own, pushing the score to 6-0. 

Ashland's lone run came in the second inning on a solo home run. ODU tacked on one run each in the fourth and fifth innings to secure the 8-1 win.

Looking Ahead
The Panthers will aim to build momentum with a doubleheader against the Walsh Cavaliers (8-18, 4-6 GMAC), a series rescheduled from last week. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.