SAULT STE. MARIE, Michigan - Despite scoring more runs than their previous nine games combined, Ohio Dominican's softball team suffered a pair of setbacks to Lake Superior State (Mich.) at Locey Field in Sault Ste. Marie on a frightfully frigid Friday afternoon, falling victim to a 9-8 extra innings walk-off in game one and an 18-8, five-inning loss in game two.

The Panthers (7-29, 2-16 GLIAC) took a quick 4-0 lead through the first three innings of game one as Brooke McCartney (So./Salem, OH) doubled home Erin Sutter (Jr./Mansfield, OH) in the top of the first and Caitlin Chaney (Jr./Newark, OH) drove in three with her fourth homerun of the year in the top of the third.

After a quiet first four innings, the Lakers' (5-20, 2-16 GLIAC) bats finally began to heat up as LSSU took a 5-4 lead with three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth. ODU hung a three spot on the board in the seventh as Kylee Crislip (Jr./Louisville, OH) smacked her second round-tripper of the year, a three-run shot that scored Sutter and Jennifer Baker (Sr./Cortland, OH) after they reached on a pair of singles.

A homer, two walks and single allowed the Lakers to knot the game at 7-7, but LSSU left the bases full as the game headed to extra innings. In the top of the eighth, Sutter ripped a two-out RBI single to score Rebekha Lucas (Fr./Laurelville, OH) and put the Panther ahead 8-7. However, two errors by the ODU infield and two passed balls in the bottom of the inning resulted in one run and left the door open as a walk-off RBI single gave the Lakers their first GLIAC win of the year.

LSSU gave the Panthers a taste of their own medicine in game two as the Lakers come out swinging the hot bats, taking a 10-0 lead after two innings with 10 hits, including a three-run homer in the seven-run second. The Lakers continued to wreck havoc on the ODU pitching staff, sending across eight more runs on eight hits in the top of the fourth an 18-0 advantage.

The Panthers, helped by a pair of Lakers errors, rallied with five runs on three hits in the bottom of the fourth and three more run in the fifth, but ODU could not extend the game as they left the bases loaded and LSSU completed the sweep.

Sutter led the way for the Panthers finishing the day 4-for-7 at the plate with two RBI and three runs scored, while drawing a pair of walks and stealing two bases.

ODU will look to get back on track as they head to Midland tomorrow to take on Northwood for a 1 p.m. conference doubleheader.

Contact: Bryan Desch
deschb@ohiodominican.edu