COLUMBUS, Ohio – The final day of competition for the ODU softball team proved to be a difficult one in the Gulf Coast Invitational in Orange Beach, Alabama. The Panthers (5-12) were unable to collect a victory as they played their final three games down south.   

In game one, the Panthers faced Faulkner University (7-9) and were looking to get off to a good start in day two of the Gulf Coast Invite. The Panthers jumped out to a early lead in the top of the first as leadoff batter Jennifer Baker (Jr./Cortland, OH) singled through the left side of the infield. Baker would steal second and eventually score on Kylee Crislip's (So./Louisville, OH) single up the middle. That, however, would be the extent of the ODU offense as the Eagles defense held the Panthers scoreless for the remainder of the game. The Eagles would capitalize on the Panthers untimely errors scoring the go ahead run in the bottom of the 5^th inning and never look as they went on to win by a score of, 2-1.  

Maria Staton (Jr./New Bremen, OH; pictured) went the distance for the Panthers. Staton gave up two runs, one earned, on four hits taking her record to 2-4 on the young season.  

In game two, the Panthers took on the University of Houston-Victoria (14-7). The Jaguar's are currently ranked 13^th in the preseason NAIA poll and are also a member of the AII (Association of Independent Institutions). After a defensive battle in the first three innings, the Jaguar's offense exploded scoring three runs off three hits. The Panther bats were silenced collecting just two hits by Cassandra Weitz (Jr./Dayton, OH) and Brooke McCartney (Fr./Salem, OH). The University of Houston Victoria would go on to win game two by a final score of, 4-0. Starting pitcher Maria Staton (2-5) would once again go the distance in the circle for the Panthers giving up four runs on ten hits.

For game three the Panthers left Orange Beach and made the short trip to the Gulf Shores Sportsplex in Gulf Shores, Alabama to take on Oklahoma Christian University (6-12) under the lights.  

After a slow start, and falling behind by one run, the Panther offense came to life in the bottom of the 4^th inning when Brooke McCartney and Erin Sutter (So./Mansfield, OH) both collected singles. Chelsea Archer (So./Thornville, OH) would follow-up with a three-run homerun to left center field giving the Panthers the lead, 3-1. The offense continued to put the pressure on the Eagle as Caitlin Chaney (So./Newark, OH) tripled down the right field line. Erica Sutter (Sr./Mansfield, OH) would then execute the squeeze bunt to perfection scoring Chaney easily from third giving ODU their fourth run of the game.  

The Eagles would answer right back scoring three runs off of starting pitcher Shana Etter (Jr./Massillon, OH) to tie the game at four runs apiece. Etter would turn the ball over to the bull pen and the Eagles would add a pair of runs to pull out the win, 6-4. The Panthers were out-hit by the Eagles eleven to six and Sutter (1-3) would take the loss.

The Panthers are scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, March 17^th as they take on Lake Erie College in a doubleheader in Painesville, Ohio. Game one is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.