Game 1 box score: Ohio Dominican 8, Hillsdale 4

Game 2 box score: Ohio Dominican 7, Hillsdale 6

An exciting day of softball didn't end the way the Charger softball team hoped in its home and conference opener Saturday afternoon.

Hillsdale lost both ends of a doubleheader to a red-hot Ohio Dominican team by scores of 8-4 and 7-6 at Johnny Williams Field. The Chargers, back home Sunday vs. Ohio Valley, are 6-15 overall and 0-2 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.

The Panthers displayed impressive power in the two games, hitting a combined five home runs, including three in the second game. That power countered a tenacious Charger team that hit the ball very well, just not quite enough to pull out wins.

Hillsdale took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third inning of game two, but ODU scored three times in the fourth and fifth innings to grab the lead for good. Freshman pitcher Camryn Olson turned in a very good outing in her home collegiate debut, going 2 2/3 innings in relief with three strikeouts and no runs or walks allowed.

Senior Amanda Marra, who had a huge day at the plate, was 2-for-4 with a run scored in the opener. Junior Sam Catron doubled and drove in a run as part of a 2-for-3 game, and sophomore Natalie Walters doubled and scored a run. Freshman Anna Dixon also had an excellent debut, making a diving catch for a double play in the field, and picking up an RBI single.

Game two was a thriller, with the Panthers scoring four times in the top of the seventh to take a 7-4 lead. Hillsdale stormed right back, scoring twice on a Dixon bases-loaded single. But that would be all Hillsdale could score, despite loading the bases again in the final frame.

Hillsdale outhit Ohio Dominican 15-13 in the second game.

Marra was incredible in game two at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored. Junior Victoria Addis crushed the ball and had a double, going 3-for-4 with a run batted in. Catron also doubled, was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Dixon was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and senior Jessica Taylor also had two hits and a run scored.

PHOTO: MaryKate Drews