SAVANNAH, Georgia – Thanks to a solid pitching effort by Maria Staton (Sr./New Bremen, OH) and a balanced offense at the plate, Ohio Dominican's softball team closed the SCAD Boombah Smash Hit Tournament with a 7-2 non-conference decision over GLIAC foe, Findlay.

Staton, who had a no-hitter through four innings, went the distance, allowing just two runs on four hits, while striking out a season-best seven batters.

Four players registered multi-hit performances as the Panthers finished with 11 for the game. Kylee Crislip (Jr./Louisville, OH) led the way with a season-high three hits and two RBI, while Jennifer Baker (Sr./Cortland, OH), Samantha Wolfe (Sr./Columbus, OH) and Caitlin Jividen (Fr./Wheeling, WV) each collected two. Baker matched her season-high with a team-best three RBI.

After a scoreless first two innings, ODU struck first with a five-run, six-hit outburst in the top of the third. Following Wolfe's second homer of the day to lead off the at-bat, the Panthers strung together five straight singles, including an RBI single to left by Baker and a two RBI single up the middle by Crislip.

Baker added two more insurance runs in the top of the fourth with a two-out, two RBI single, plating Erin Sutter (Jr./Mansfield, OH) and Jividen.

The Oilers finally broke through in the home half of the sixth with a double followed by a two-run homerun to pull within 7-2, but Staton forced three fly outs in the seventh to seal her first win and the third win in five games for ODU.

In the first game of Friday's action, the Panthers struck first against host Savannah College of Arts & Design, but could not overcome a five-run hole, falling by the final of 8-3.

Crislip gave ODU an early 1-0 lead with an RBI single to centerfield to score Sutter, but the Bees responded with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the second to go in front 3-1.

SCAD tacked on another run in the third and two more in the fourth on a two-run homerun for a 6-1 advantage.

The Panthers rallied with two runs in the top half of the fifth as Wolfe smacked a lead-off homerun and Jividen stole home following a double and SAC bunt by Sutter. However, just one hit over the final two innings and two SCAD RBI singles in the sixth resulted in the final tally.

ODU, now 4-10 on the year, closes the tourney with a 3-3 mark and returns to the field tomorrow as they conclude their spring trip with a noon twinbill at Reinhardt in Waleska, Ga.

Contact: Bryan Desch
deschb@ohiodominican.edu