COLUMBUS, Ohio – The ODU softball team returned to action on Tuesday after a rare day off while on their spring trip in Pensacola, Florida. The Panthers (3-7) took on former America Mideast Conference rival Shawnee State (2-2) in a doubleheader at the University of West Florida.

In game one, both offenses came out swinging totaling 22 hits, ten for the Bears and twelve for the Panthers. The Bears built an early lead on ODU starting pitcher Caitlin Chaney (So./Newark, OH) scoring two runs in each of the first two innings. The Panthers wouldn't let their former AMC counterpart get the best of them as they continued to chip away at the lead in the early going. After SSU added an insurance run in the fourth inning off relief pitcher Shana Etter (Jr./Massillon, OH; pictured) the Panthers rallied for four runs, one in each of the final four innings to take the lead and the game.

ODU eventually took the lead thanks to a seventh inning rally that was started by Samatha Wolfe (Jr./Columbus, OH) single to left field. She would eventually score on Caitlin Chaney's two out, game winning hit which was able to find real estate just inside the right field line giving the Panthers the win, 6-5.   
    
Also contributing offensively for the Panthers in game one were Jennifer Baker (Jr./Cortland, OH) who was 3-for-4 at the plate as well as Kylee Crislip (So./Louisville, OH) and Erin Sutter (So./Mansfield, OH) who both collected two hits each.  

Shana Etter (2-2) got the win for the Panthers on the mound.
    
Game two proved to be a completely different story for the Panthers as their bats were silenced by the Bears defense. The Panthers managed just two hits off SSU starter Ali Thomas in the defensive battle with the Bears.

SSU jumped out early in the bottom of the first inning scoring one run and that's all Thomas would need. The Bears would add a pair of insurance runs in the fourth.  

Relief pitcher Maria Staton (Jr./New Bremen, OH) took the mound in the bottom of the fifth inning and was ODU's only bright spot as she retired all six batters she faced to close out the game.

The Panthers will return to action on Wednesday, March 10 as they face Rockhurst University in a doubleheader at the University of West Florida. Game one is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. (CST).