MVNU (16-10, 7-7 AMC South) took an early 1-0 lead in the first game as the Lady Cougars pushed across the first run of the game in the top of the second inning. With two outs, sophomore outfielder Lauretta Wallace (left) lined a double to right center. Then, she advanced to third base on a wild pitch and came around to score when catcher Cassandra Weitz had a throwing error on the play.

A two-out single to rightfield by Muriel Kelley in the bottom of the third inning knotted the score at 1-1 for the host Lady Panthers (12-19, 6-2 AMC South). Then, Ohio Dominican took a 3-1 lead on a two-out, two-run double by Shana Etter in the bottom of the fourth inning.

MVNU pulled within 3-2 in the top of the sixth inning. Sophomore outfielder Leslie Banichar led off the inning with a trip to center and came around to score on a single by junior third baseman Karly Clay. However, that would be as close as the Lady Cougars would get as the next six MVNU batters were retired in order to end the game.

Junior right-hander Candace White (8-6) took the tough loss on the mound for the Lady Cougars as she scattered eight hits, two walks, and three runs over six innings with two strikeouts.

Erica Sutter (6-4) started and gave up five hits, two walks, and two runs over five-plus innings with three strikeouts to earn the win. Petra Jones retired the final six batters including two strikeouts as she notched her first save of the season.

Wallace went 2-for-3 to lead the way for MVNU, which had just five hits in the game. Meanwhile, Sarah Rante went 2-for-3 for the Lady Panthers.

The second game started much like the first game as the Lady Cougars took an early 1-0 lead by pushing across a run in the top of the second inning with two outs. Back-to-back singles by Clay and junior first baseman Kylie Rupert plated sophomore designated player Staci Graham, who led off the inning with a walk.

The lead held up until the bottom of the fifth inning when Ohio Dominican used three walks, two hits, a sacrifice fly, and an error to post three runs and take a 3-1 lead with all the scoring coming after two outs were recorded in the inning.

MVNU did not give up, though, as the Lady Cougars knotted the score at 3-3 in the top of the sixth inning when Banichar drew a walk and came around to score on a two-out, two-run homer by sophomore catcher Caitlin Murphy (right) to leftfield. It was the first home run of the year for Murphy and the third of her career.

MVNU took a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh inning when Banichar drew a two-out walk and promptly stole second base. Graham followed with an RBI-double to right center to give the Lady Cougars the lead.

However, in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Lady Panthers drew four more walks as Ohio Dominican knotted the score at 4-4 on an RBI-double by Amanda Ritzler and then won the game literally in walk-off fashion as three consecutive walks drove in the game-winning run as the Lady Panthers prevailed 5-4.

Senior right-hander Kristin Eyerman (8-3) suffered the loss as she allowed four hits, 10 walks, and five runs over 6.2 innings with four strikeouts. The 10 walks issued was just one shy of the school record of 11 set twice by Diana Kirkpatrick.

Maria Staton started and gave up five hits, three walks, and three runs over 5.2 innings with seven strikeouts. Jones (3-7) tossed the final 1.1 innings and picked up the win as she allowed just one hit, one walk, and one run with one strikeout.

Rupert led MVNU by going 2-for-3 at the plate, while Banichar stole two bases and scored two runs. Jessica Carey went 3-for-4 with two RBI, and Kelley added a single to account for all of Ohio Dominican’s hits in the game as most of the damage was done by the walks.

The Lady Cougars will look to bounce back on Thursday when MVNU will host the University of Rio Grande in a key AMC South Division doubleheader that will start at 3:00 p.m.