MELBOURNE, FL - On the final day of the Space Coast Spring Games, the Ohio Dominican softball team faced two opponents before returning home, with conference play on the horizon.
Game One vs. Mercy (L, 4-1)
To open the day, the Panthers took on the Mavericks of Mercy University, falling 4–1 after a decisive four-run inning by Mercy.
Freshman Alyvia Lawrentz got the start in the circle, pitching 4.1 innings while allowing six hits and four runs, along with two strikeouts. Sophomore Emma Grau provided solid relief, tossing 1.2 innings and giving up just one hit.
Offensively, shortstop Avery Mueller led the way with two hits and a run scored. Olivia Congleton and Erica Massey each added a hit, accounting for four of the Panthers' total hits.
Ohio Dominican's lone run came in the top of the second inning when Mueller launched her first home run of the season to center field. However, Mercy responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring all four of its runs on five hits to take control and secure the 4–1 win.
Game Two vs. Saint Michaels (W, 8-0 in five innings)
In a quick turnaround for game two, the Panthers bounced back in dominant fashion, closing out their Florida trip with an 8–0 run-rule victory over Saint Michael's in five innings.
Emma Grau delivered a strong performance in the circle, pitching a complete-game two-hitter over five innings while recording four strikeouts.
The Panthers' offense came alive, with four players—Reese Loveday, Avery Mueller, Erica Massey, and Saadie Maysonet—each going 2-for-3 at the plate. Loveday and Mueller drove in two runs apiece, while Massey and Maysonet each added an RBI. Halina Schulte was perfect at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a run scored and two RBIs.
Ohio Dominican wasted no time getting on the board. In the first inning, Loveday tripled to right field to drive in Kendrick Sterling, who had reached on a leadoff single. The Panthers extended their lead in the second inning, when Gianna Solinger and Maysonet scored on a two-RBI double by Schulte to make it 3–0.
The Panthers sealed the win with a five-run outburst in the fifth inning. Schulte led off with a double, followed by an RBI single from Loveday. Mueller then doubled to right-center to drive in two more runs, and Massey added an RBI single to make it 7–0. Maysonet capped off the game with an RBI single to right-center, securing the 8–0 run-rule victory.
Coming Up
Ohio Dominican will return to Ohio this weekend to open conference play on the road against Ursuline in Pepper Pike for two games.
