DECATUR, Alabama - Ohio Dominican's softball team could not get back on the winning track Saturday at the Charger Chillout, losing their second and third games in row. The Panthers dropped game one, 8-0, in five innings to Southern Indiana before falling to West Alabama, 12-9, in eight innings, in game two.

ODU (1-3) looked poised to strike early against the Screaming Eagles in Saturday's opener as Erin Sutter (Jr./Mansfield, OH) started the game with a base hit to left and Jennifer Baker (Sr./Cortland, OH) followed with a bunt single. However, the Panthers could not advance a runner past second as three straight outs closed that half of the inning.

Following a scoreless first, Southern Indiana struck first with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Following a walk and single, a double steal had runners on second and third, and with one out, Jessica McCullough singled to left to collect the two RBI base hit. The Eagles tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third and three in the fourth to take a 7-0 lead.

The Panthers tried to rally in the top half of the fifth as back-to-back singles from Brittany Seavey (Fr./Flint, MI) and Sutter and a sacrifice bunt by Baker sent Seavey to third, but USI forced a groundout to shortstop to end the at-bat.

Back-to-back pinch hit singles by Screaming Eagles and an ODU error in the bottom half set up the game-clinching sacrifice fly to centerfield to secure the shortened five-inning victory.

Sutter and Baker both finished with two hits apiece to lead the Panthers, while Caitlin Chaney (Jr./Newark, OH) suffered her first loss of the season from the circle, allowing five earned runs on five hits and walking six in 3.1 innings of work.

In game two, ODU and West Alabama battled through two scoreless innings, before the Tigers erupted for a five-run third inning. UWA combined for five runs on seven hits, including a solo homer to right and two two-RBI singles through the right side.

After a groundout to second base, Baker got on with a single in the home half of the third. Baker advanced to second on another groundout and came around to score on double to right center by Kylee Crislip (Jr./Louisville, OH), making the score 5-1.

Despite just one hit, ODU added two more runs in the fourth to trim the deficit to 5-3. Cassandra Weitz (Sr./Dayton, OH) singled through the right side to start the inning. Three walks and one fielder's choice later, Weitz came around to score. With the bases still loaded, Brooke McCartney (So./Salem, OH) drew another walk to plate Seavey, but that was all for the Panthers as they left three runners left on base.

Both team had scoreless fifth, but the Tigers tacked on another run in the sixth as a single coupled with an ODU error plated their sixth run.

The Panthers plated a run in the bottom of the inning to remain within two, 6-4, Sutter drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. After a groundout advanced her to third, McCartney singled through the middle to collect the RBI.

ODU shutout UWA in the top of the seventh and needing two runs to continue the game, Baker came through, driving in the runners on second and third with a single to left field.

Playing under international rules, the Tigers were able to place a runner on second base to start the top of the eighth. A walk, wild pitch and intentional pass left the bases full, and following a fly out, West Alabama struck with a three-run double to centerfield. Another Panther error and three consecutive singles plated three more runs as the Tigers posted a six spot on the scoreboard.

Not going quietly, ODU rallied as three passed balls sandwiched around two walks allowed, McCartney, the Panthers' free runner, to come around and score. Another walk and an error by the shortstop scored Crislip. Caitlin Jividen (Fr./Wheeling, WV) collected her first career RBI with a single through the right side, plating Samantha Wolfe (Sr./Columbus, OH), but two strikeouts coupled around a pop-up left the bases full as a the Tigers hung on for the win.

Jividen finished with three hits, one RBI and one run in four at-bats, while Baker collected two hits for her fourth straight multi-hit game, driving in a team-high three RBI. Shana Etter (Sr./Tuslaw, OH) picked up her first loss of the year, allowing eight earned runs on 14 hits and walking four in 7.1 innings.

Contact: Bryan Desch
deschb@ohiodominican.edu