AKRON, OH - The Ohio Dominican softball team (27-25) continued its impressive run in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference tournament with a second-round matchup against the top-seeded Tiffin Dragons (40-12) this morning. Riding the momentum from a dominant upset win over #4 Northwood, the #5 seeded Panthers pulled off another stunner—this time in extra innings—with a 3-1 victory over the #1 Dragons.
Emma Grau took the mound for Ohio Dominican and pitched 6.1 strong innings, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out six. Marlee Jacobs came in as relief in the seventh inning and was lights out, striking out four batters while allowing no hits or runs to close out the game.
Offensively, the Panthers tallied five hits and three runs, with two RBIs overall. Catcher Olivia Congleton led the way with two hits and one RBI, while Erica Massey, Kaleigh Golden, and Kendrick Sterling each contributed a hit.
How It Happened
Tiffin opened the scoring early with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.
Ohio Dominican quickly responded in the top of the second. Congleton led off with a single to right, and pinch runner Emma Grau stole second base to get into scoring position. Shortly after, Kendrick Sterling smashed a double down the right field line, driving in Grau to tie the game 1-1.
The game remained deadlocked through seven innings, thanks to strong pitching and defense from both teams. But in the top of the 8th, the Panthers broke through.
Kaleigh Golden led off the inning with a crucial walk, and Avery Mueller laid down a sacrifice bunt that resulted in a throwing error, allowing her to reach first.
Erica Massey followed with another bunt, advancing Golden to third and Mueller to second. Emily Holland then hit a fly ball to left field that scored Golden on a throwing error, giving the Panthers a 2-1 lead. Congleton added an insurance run with a single to third, driving in Mueller and extending the lead to 3-1.
Jacobs closed the door in dominant fashion in the bottom of the 8th, striking out all three batters—one looking and two swinging—to send Ohio Dominican to the winner's bracket final. The Panthers will now face the #2 Hillsdale Chargers tomorrow at 10 a.m. on the main field at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio.
