COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican softball team took to the warm weather of Rome, Georgia over the weekend for the start of the season, but struggled to shake the off-season rust as they dropped their first three games in the Shorter College Invitational before grabbing the victory in their final game.
The Panthers (1-3) played a doubleheader on Saturday against the NAIA Preseason 7th ranked Pilots of Bethel College (IN) and Bulldogs of Tennessee Wesleyan University. ODU struggled to contain the hot bats of the Pilots (1-0) in the first game as they fell 15-3. In game two, Maria Staton (Jr./New Bremen, OH) pitched a gem from the circle allowing one run on three hits in six innings of work, but took the 1-0 loss as the Bulldogs (1-5) kept the Panther offense in check.
On the second day of the invitational, ODU squared off against the Montreat College (N.C.) Cavaliers in game one of another twin bill. The Panthers were down just two entering the bottom half of the sixth, but the Cavaliers (7-6) exploded for five runs to seal the 10-3 victory. In game two, ODU took on the Night Hawks of Thomas University (GA). Shana Etter (Jr./Massillon, OH) grabbed the victory going six strong innings from the circle holding the Night Hawks (2-10) to just two earned runs on six hits while fanning three.
Offensively, the Panthers were led by outfielder Erin Sutter (So./Mansfield, OH) who hit .417 (5-for-12) and scored two runs. Samantha Wolfe (So./Columbus, OH; pictured) knocked two home runs and drove in six RBI going 3-for-12 (.250) over the weekend.
ODU will return to action this weekend as they travel to Pensacola, Florida for the University of West Florida Spring Fling as part of their annual spring break softball excursion. The Panthers will play eight games in four days in Florida then head to Orange Beach, Alabama for five games in the Gulf Coast Invitational.
