COLUMBUS, Ohio - Despite sub-40 degree temperatures and the occasional snow flurries, the Ohio Dominican softball team posted leads in both games against Grand Valley State (Mich.) on Friday afternoon, but thanks to some timely hitting, the Lakers were able to open conference play with a pair wins, 12-7 and 7-6, at Panther Field.

With the sweep, GVSU extends their win streak to 11 games and improves to 16-3 overall and 2-0 in the GLIAC, while the Panthers fall to 5-15 and 0-2 in conference play.

In game two, ODU as the visitor per GLIAC rules, posted leads of 1-0 and 4-2, however the Lakers responded each time in the bottom of the innings with runs of their own. Brooke McCartney (So./Salem, OH) opened the scoring for the Panthers, doubling home Rebekha Lucas (Fr./Laurelville, OH) in the top of the second inning for a 1-0 lead.

GVSU countered with a two RBI single in their next at-bat to claim their first lead at 2-1. ODU added two in top of the third to go back on top 3-2 as Samantha Wolfe (Sr./Columbus, OH) doubled down the left field line to score Kylee Crislip (Jr./Louisville, OH) who reached on a walk and than stole second. After reaching on a fielder's choice, Cailtin Chaney (Jr./Newark, OH) came around to score on a RBI groundout to second from Lucas.

Both teams tacked on a run in the fourth to make the score 4-3. Following a scoreless ODU fifth, the Lakers plated three runs on a two RBI triple and sacrifice fly to right field to reclaim the lead at 6-4. Unfazed, the Panthers continued to battle and following a McCartney double down the line and a Brittany Seavey (Fr./Flint, MI) single up the middle, Jennifer Baker (Sr./Cortland, OH) beat out a two-out groundball to shortstop to score both runners and knot the game at 6-6.

Maria Staton (Sr./New Bremen, OH) worked her second perfect inning of the game in the bottom of the sixth, but the Panthers also went down in order in the seventh setting up the Lakers' final at-bat. With runners on second and third following a walk, SAC-bunt and a single through the left side, Brittany Taylor singled home the game-winning run with a drive to the right field fence.

Baker, McCartney and Seavey each collected a pair of hits to lead ODU's 10-hit attack, while Baker drove into two runs and McCartney finished with two doubles.

In game two, the Panthers jumped out to a 4-1 lead through two innings with six hits, all singles, including a pair of RBI knocks by Chaney and an RBI single and groundout by Crislip.

Grand Valley St. rallied with two runs in the top of the third on a two RBI single through the middle after sandwiching two singles around a walk. The Lakers' bats continued to stay hot as they sent across runs in each of the final four innings, outscoring ODU a combined 11-3 from the third inning onward.

After GVSU hung a four spot on the board in the fifth, the Panthers rallied with two runs to pull with 8-6 in the home half of the inning as Caitlin Jividen (Fr./Wheeling, WV) drilled her first collegiate homerun to centerfield and Seavey doubled home McCartney.

The Lakers added three insurance runs in the sixth and one more in the seventh to take control of the game. ODU sent a run across in their final at-bat thanks to an RBI groundout from Crislip, but left two runners in scoring position as GVSU took the 12-7 decision.

The Panthers, led by Erin Sutter (Jr./Mansfield, OH), had five batters with multi-hit efforts and outhit the Lakers 14-13, but could not come up with some timely hitting as they left 12 runners on base.  Sutter matcher her season-high with three base hits, while Crislip, Chaney, Etter and Seavey all finished with two.

The Panthers continue their three-day conference homestand tomorrow as Ferris State (Mich.) makes the trek south to Panther Field for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

Contact: Bryan Desch
deschb@ohiodominican.edu