CLERMONT, Florida – The University of Charleston softball team split a pair of games on Friday with a 5-4 loss to Ohio Dominican but bounced back to a 7-2 victory over Ashland University.
 
In game one, ODU had the Golden Eagles on its heels from the first pitch as they sent 11 batters to the plate, scoring four runs in the inning to take the lead. After ODU added a second run in the second, the Golden Eagles were down 5-0.  UC got on the board in the fifth, and a late rally in the sixth saw UC push three runs across to make the score 5-4. With bases loaded and one out, ODU managed to get out of the inning with the one-run lead. For UC, Alexis Bandin came in in relief and pitched four innings of scoreless ball, striking out three and allowing only three hits.
 
Game two saw UC get on the board in the first, second, and seventh innings. Laura Ashlock hit a double to right-center, scoring Katelyn Hamilton from first to put UC on top 1-0.  Junior starter Alli Burdette threw a complete game, giving up two runs -- one earned -- in her seventh win of the season. Alayna Carlson tripled in the seventh to add some much-needed insurance, as the hit scored Bethany Williams, Jenna Evans, and Carlson after the right fielder missed the cut-off. Ashlock had three hits in the game while Rachelle Toppings, Williams, and Evans each added two apiece.
 
UC is now 11-3 on the season and will conclude its spring break trip Saturday, March 12, with a single game against Lock Haven University at 9 a.m.