COLUMBUS, OH - After a competitive split series in Findlay on Wednesday, the Ohio Dominican Panthers softball team returned to Columbus for a home weekend series against Cedarville University on Friday and Tiffin on Sunday. Today, the Panthers swept the Yellow Jackets with a full offensive display, winning 9-1 in five innings in game one and 10-6 in game two.
Game One (W, 9-1)
The Panthers came out hot from the first pitch, totaling 14 hits with nine runs while striking out just once. Right fielder Halina Schulte went perfect at the plate, recording one run and one RBI. Saadie Maysonet went 2-for-3 with three commanding RBIs in the first inning to get the scoring started. Kendrick Sterling also went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run, while DP Hannah Plymale finished 1-for-1 with two RBIs.
Pitcher Alyvia Lawrentz earned her 11th win of the season, tossing a stellar two-hit game while allowing just one run and striking out six on 69 pitches.
ODU cracked things open in the bottom of the first after retiring Cedarville in order to start the game. Leadoff hitter Reese Loveday doubled down the left field line, and Olivia Congleton was hit by a pitch to put two runners on. Avery Mueller kept the momentum going with a single up the middle. With two outs, Maysonet delivered a rocket to left-center, clearing the bases for a 3-0 lead. The Panthers added two more runs in the second to make it 5-0, highlighted by Sterling's two-RBI single that scored Schulte and Lawrentz.
Cedarville didn't respond until the top of the fifth with a home run. ODU answered immediately with three more runs in the bottom half. Triplett led off with a double to center, and Schulte added an RBI single. In a pinch-hit appearance, Plymale delivered a walk-off single up the middle, scoring two Panthers to secure the 9-1 run-rule victory.
Game Two (W, 10-6)
In game two, ODU continued its offensive momentum with 12 team hits. Avery Mueller led the way, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and one run. Olivia Congleton went 2-for-3 in the DP role with two RBIs and one run, while Reese Loveday stayed consistent at 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs. Plymale again contributed off the bench, going 1-for-1 with a run scored.
Emma Grau earned the win, allowing six runs on 11 hits while striking out seven over 95 pitches.
ODU struck first again in the bottom of the first when Congleton launched a home run to start the game, scoring herself and Loveday, who had reached on a single. Cedarville answered with an RBI single in the second, but ODU responded with three runs in the bottom half. Maysonet and Triplett opened the inning with singles, setting up Loveday's two-run home run—her third of the season—to give the Panthers a 5-1 lead.
Cedarville added two runs in the third to cut the deficit to 5-3, but ODU answered once again. Mueller hit a two-run home run, bringing in Congleton and extending the lead to 8-3. In the fourth inning, the home run streak continued as Sterling added a solo shot, marking a fourth consecutive inning with a home run for the Panthers.
Cedarville scored two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth, but it wasn't enough. ODU added one more run in the bottom of the sixth on an unearned score to seal the 10-6 win and complete the series sweep.
Next up
The Panthers will face G-MAC leader Tiffin University (16-2 in conference play) in a doubleheader on Sunday at 1Â and 3Â p.m.
