DECATUR, Alabama - The Ohio Dominican softball team kicked off the 2011 season with a 16-8 win over Maryville (Mo.) at the University of Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout, but could not complete the opening day sweep, falling to Truman State (Mo.) 6-3 in the night cap.

In game one, Maryville jumped on the Panthers early with three runs in the top of the first inning. Back-to-back hits plated the Saints first run of the game and after a stolen base and hit by pitch, Maryvillle scored its second run thanks to two ODU passed balls. After their third hit of the inning, a sacrifice fly provided the third score.

Unfazed, the Panthers responded with five runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Erin Sutter (Jr./Mansfield, OH) opened the scoring with a walk and after stealing second, came around to score on a throwing error. After a double down the line, Jennifer Baker (Sr./Cortland, OH) advanced to third on a  Brooke McCartney (So./Salem, OH) single and came around to score on a second throwing error. With the bases loaded, Samantha Wolfe (Sr./Columbus, OH) reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on the throw, plating McCartney. Cassandra Weitz (Sr./Dayton, OH) followed with a single to right, tacking on two more scores.

Three straight singles and two errors by the Panthers sparked the Saints to three more runs in the top of the second.  

After a scoreless bottom half, ODU added a run in the third as Weitz scored pinch-runner Brittany Seavey (Fr./Flint, MI.) with a SAC-fly to center to knot the score at 6-6.The score remained tied until the top of the fifth when the Saints added two more for an 8-6 advantage.

In the ODU half of the fifth with the bases full, Rebekha Lucas (Fr./Laurelville,OH) drove in her first career RBI with a single up the middle, scoring Wolfe. Shana Etter (Sr./Massillon, OH) followed with a single to right center to score Caitlin Chaney (Jr./Newark, OH) and Weitz. Following a fielder's choice, Baker notched her first RBI of the year with a single to left center to put the Panthers their first lead at 10-6.

ODU continued the momentum in the sixth inning, tacking on six more runs for the shortened 16-8 win and their first season opening victory in four seasons. The Panthers opened the frame with back-to-back singles by McCartney and Kylee Crislip (Jr./Louisville, OH). Wolfe reached on a throwing error allowing the two runners to score. Two walks sandwiched around an error plated the third run. Etter's third hit of the game scored Weitz. After advancing to third on a fielder's choice, Lucas came in on a passed ball and following a walk by Baker, McCartney drove in Sutter with a fielder's choice to shortstop for the final tally.

Baker and Etter each collected three hits in four at-bats to lead ODU, while Etter and Weitz finished with a game-high three RBI each. Lucas and Wolfe drove in two. Etter collected the win from the circle, scattering 11 hits, four earned runs and two walks in six innings, while striking out two.

After 14 hits and 16 runs in the opening game, the Panthers went cold from the plate in game two against Truman State, managing only three runs on eights hits. The Bulldogs jumped on ODU early, plating three runs in the bottom half of the first inning.

The score remained until the top of the fifth when Seavey doubled to left center and scored on a Baker single to left, bringing the score to 3-1. TSU countered with two runs in the bottom of the inning after two singles and a double down the leftfield line.

Wolfe reached on an error to start the sixth and came home on a Weitz RBI single to the right side. Seavey's second double of the game plated Weitz, but the Panthers rally fell short as the Bulldogs hung for the 6-3 decision.

Seavey and Baker each finished with two hits, while Seavey had a team-high two RBI in her first career start. Maria Staton (Sr./New Bremen, OH) suffered the setback, allowing three earned runs on eight hits in five innings, while fanning three.

ODU continues the Chillout with two games tomorrow, beginning at 1:30 p.m. against Southern Indiana followed by a 3:30 p.m. games against West Alabama.

Contact: Bryan Desch
deschb@ohiodominican.edu