COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican softball team traveled to Mishawaka, Indiana this weekend for the Bethel Invitational held on the campus of Bethel College. The Panthers had a tough first day as they dropped a pair of one run games to Judson University 9-8 and Bethel College 5-4.
To open tournament play the Panthers faced Judson University (IL). The Eagles (16-14) took control of the game in the second inning as they were able to push six runs across the plate, thanks in part to a three-run home run off of ODU starting pitcher Erica Sutter (Sr./Mansfield, OH).
ODU would battle back as they got their offense going with a run in the third and three in the fourth. Judson answered with two in their half of the fourth and added a big run in the sixth to take a 9-4 advantage in the top of the seventh inning. After a pair of walks, the Panthers found themselves back in the game in their last at bat. ODU rattled off five hits and scored four times to cut the lead to one. The rally, however, would come up short as Chelsea Archer (So./Thornville, OH), the tying run, was be thrown out at the plate by the Eagles centerfielder for the 9-8 final.
Sutter took the loss for the Panthers taking her record to 5-8 on the season. The Panthers were led offensively by Erin Sutter (So./Mansfield, OH) who was 2-for-3 from the plate, with two stolen bases and a run scored. Samantha Wolfe (Jr./Columbus, OH) collected two RBI in the loss.
In game two, the Panthers would face-off with the host team, Bethel College (28-2-1), who is currently ranked 4th in the latest NAIA poll. The Pilots struck first, scoring one run in the bottom of the first inning after a leadoff single. They would add an additional run in the third, taking the early lead, 2-0.
The Panthers again battled back in the fourth as Jennifer Baker (Jr./Cortland, OH) scored on a Cassandra Weitz's (Jr./Dayton, OH; pictured) sacrifice fly, bringing the score to 2-1. The Panthers weren't finished as they rattled off four consecutive hits and scored three more times in the top of the fifth inning for a 4-1 lead.
The Pilots crawled back into the game and in the bottom of the seventh inning found themselves trailing by just one run. Starting pitcher Maria Staton (Jr./New Bremen, OH) and the Panther defense were unable to stop the Pilots explosive offense in the final frame as the hosts plated two runs to earn the come from behind victory, 5-4.
Staton suffered the loss for the Panthers taking her record to 10-6. ODU was led offensively by Archer who was 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI. Baker also scored two runs for the Panthers in the setback.
ODU will return to action on Saturday as they take on Calumet College of St. Josephs in the final day of the tournament. Game time is set for 10 a.m.
