DECATUR, Alabama - After opening the Charger Chillout with a convincing 16-8 win over Maryville (Mo.) on Friday, Ohio Dominican's softball team concluded the invite win five straight losses, dropping both games on Sunday; 5-2 to Quincy (Ill.) and 15-1 in five innings to Indianapolis.

Quincy jumped on the Panthers early in the first game, sending across four runs in the top half of the first inning. Two singles and a double to right center plated the first Hawks' run. The next batter singled to left to send across two more runs and a second RBI-double to left center provided the early 4-0 lead.

Erin Sutter (Jr./Mansfield, OH) opened ODU's at-bat with a bunt single and advanced to second. Jennifer Baker (Sr./Cortland, OH) followed with a single up the middle and advanced on the throw from centerfield, but Sutter was caught at the plate. Back-to-back singles by Brooke McCartney (So./Salem, OH) and Kylee Crislip (Jr./Louisville, OH) plated Baker for the Panthers' first run. Following a throwing error and walk, Cassandra Weitz (Sr./Dayton, OH) was hit by a pitch allowing McCartney to score the second, trimming the deficit to 4-2. That was as close as ODU would get however as a strikeout and groundout ended the inning, leaving three runners left on base.

The Hawks held the Panthers hitless over the final six innings and added an insurance run in the top of the fifth to take the 5-2 decision. Four Panthers finished with one hit each, while Crislip and Weitz collected the two RBI. Pitcher Maria Staton (Sr./New Bremen, OH) took on her second loss of the year, allowing five earned runs on eight hits, while striking out four and walking one in the full seven innings.

In game two, ODU found themselves in another early hole as UIndy plated 13 runners in the first two innings, including eight runs on six hits in the top of the second as the Greyhounds strung together an RBI double, a three-run homerun to centerfield, and consecutive two-RBI singles through the left side.

UIndy added another run in the third off a solo shot to left center and one more run in the fourth on an RBI groundout to shortstop.

The Panthers plated their lone run of the game in the bottom half of the fifth as Samantha Wolfe (Sr./Columbus, OH) was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on Danyelle Delligatta's (Fr./Sidney, OH) first career hit and came around to score on an RBI singe by Brittany Seavey (Fr./Flint, MI). ODU was held to only three for the contest, while Shane Etter (Sr./Tuslaw, OH) recorded her second straight loss from the circle, allowing eight earned runs and five hits in 1.1 innings of work.

ODU has almost two weeks off before heading south again, this time to Carrolton, Ga. for the West Georgia Wolves' Invitational, a three-day, six-game invite beginning on Friday, March 4. The Panthers open the weekend with games against Barry (Fla.) at 2 p.m. followed by a 6 p.m. clash with NFCA Preseason No. 10, Alabama-Huntsville.

Contact: Bryan Desch
deschb@ohiodominican.edu