ETOBICOKE, ON - After defeating the Mohawk Mountaineers and St. Clair Saints at the 2023 OCAA Women's Softball Championship, the Durham College women's softball team will advance to the gold medal game on Saturday at 2:00 PM.

In their first round matchup, Mohawk opened the scoring in the top half of the first inning at Connorvale Park with a single to left field that brought a runner home from third base.

The Lords responded in their first time up to bat with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Grace Hearns (Napanee, ON), the 2023 OCAA Women's Softball Player of the Year, scored on a wild pitch after stealing second to tie the game.

Sydney Redick (Alvinston, ON) hit a solo home run in the inning to take the lead. Redick had three home runs in regular season competition for the Lords. 

Still in the first inning, Jessica Greene (Stratford, ON) and Chelsea Oke (Brooklin, ON) found their way home for a three run lead.

The Mountaineers cut Durham's lead to two on a sacrifice fly in the second inning, but the Lords put it back to three in the third inning when C. Oke hit the second home run of the game - another solo shot.

Durham added two more insurance markers in the bottom of the fifth as Jocelyn Shelton (Aylmer, ON) and Ryleigh Easton (Bowmanville, ON) touched home plate to win it 7-2.

Oke went 6.0 innings on the mound, picking up the win and striking out four batters in the process. Morgan Salter (Battersea, ON) came in for the final inning, not allowing a hit. Oke was the player of the game for Durham.

The win set the Lords up for a date with the Saints. The winner would go directly to the gold medal game, while the loser would have to play an extra game to get in through the backdoor. 

Hearns was first on the board again for the Lords before Greene scored her second run of the day to put the Lords up 2-0 early.

St. Clair didn't have a response until the second inning, where they cut the lead in half with a run.

In the bottom of the third inning, a single hit by C. Oke sent Jocelyn Shelton home to put the Lords up 3-1. Hannah Oke (Brooklin, ON) came to the plate in the inning with her sister Chelsea and Redick on base and hit it over the fence for a three-run shot, taking a 6-1 lead.

Both teams traded off runs over the next few innings, but the Saints could not claw their way back and the Lords ultimately won 7-4.

Emily Glendinning (Plattsville, ON ) got the win on the mound, pitching 5.0 innings with two strikeouts and only three runs against. H. Oke pitched the final two innings, striking out three batters en route to being named player of the game.

The Lords await their opponent for the gold medal game, which will take place at 2:00 PM at Connorvale Park in Etobicoke on Saturday. St. Clair and the Humber Hawks will play in the morning, with the loser taking bronze and the winner meeting Durham in the final game of the season.

Durham need only one win to earn the gold medal. If they lose the 2:00 PM game, a final game will be played at 4:00 PM.

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