COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican softball team swept a pair of games from former AMC foe Urbana University in their Annual Senior Day at Panther Field on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers three seniors provided the spark ODU needed to hold on for a 4-3 decision in the opener and an extra inning come from behind win in game two, 6-5.
The Panthers got a suburb pitching performance from senior righthander Erica Sutter (Mansfield, OH) in game one as she went 6.2 innings and earned her ninth victory of the season. Sutter carried a 2-hit shutout into the sixth inning before Urbana plated three runs to cut the lead to 4-3. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh Sutter turned the ball over to Shana Etter (Jr./Massillon, OH) who helped salvage the win as she recorded the final out and earned her fifth save of the season.
ODU got the scoring started early as they plated a run in the first inning. The Panthers tacked on two more in the bottom of the third when Chelsea Archer (So./Thornville, OH) took Urbana starter Jessie Swinderman deep to left field. ODU's final run came in the fourth when senior catcher Jamie Hazel (Pataskala, OH) connected for a solo shot to left, her first of her career in the Black and Gold.
The fireworks continued into game two as both teams scored five runs in the first three innings. Urbana started it off in the first inning as they took a 3-0 lead off a Tieana Steele 3-run homer. ODU answered with two of their own on three straight hits in their first at bat. Erin Sutter (So./Mansfield, OH) got it started when she singled, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Jennifer Baker (Jr./Cortland, OH) then doubled to right field and Samantha Wolfe (Jr./Columbus, OH) drove her in on a single through the middle.
Urbana added a pair of runs in the third after a lead-off double started the inning. ODU answered with a pair of runs of their own on a 2-run blast by Archer, her second of the game. ODU tied the game in the sixth on Archer's third round tripper of the day. The game would remain even until the ninth when senior Muriel Kelley (Ocala, FL) led off the bottom of the inning with a single. Kelley would eventually score the game winner on a single by Wolfe to give the Panthers the sweep.
The winning pitcher in game two was Maria Staton (Jr./New Bremen, OH) who went nine complete. Staton allowed five runs on six hits and struck out two. Archer finished the afternoon 4-for-6 with five RBI and three homeruns.
The Panthers will return to action on Wednesday, April 28th as they travel to Northern Kentucky University for a non-conference doubleheader. Game time between the Panthers and Norse is set for 3 p.m.
