UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – With their backs against the wall, Ohio Dominican's softball team's senior starting pitcher Maria Staton (New Bremen, OH) stepped up to the occasion, throwing a three-hit, complete game shutout Sunday at Saginaw Valley State as the Panthers snapped a 14-game losing streak with a 3-0 game two victory. The Cardinals took the opener 9-0 in five innings.

SVSU (28-11, 15-5 GLIAC) had runners reach third base twice, including in the seventh when they loaded the bases with two outs, but Staton forced a fly out to left field as ODU ended its longest drought in over five seasons. Staton scattered the three hits over three different innings and fanned two, while surrendering three walks to earn her third decision of the year.

The Panthers (8-32, 3-19 GLIAC) scored a run in the third as freshman Rebekha Lucas (Laurelville, OH) followed classmate Brittany Seavey's (Flint, MI) lead-off double with a one-out RBI single to left. ODU added two more in the bottom of the fourth as Brooke McCartney (So./Salem, OH) led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Caitlin Chaney (Jr./Newark, OH), Samantha Wolfe (Sr./Columbus, OH) walked and following a double steal, Cassandra Weitz (Sr./Dayton, OH) scored both on a base hit through the middle.

It was all SVSU in the opener as the Cardinals received an impressive pitching performance of their own from starter Jade Fulton. Fulton, the conference leader in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched, threw a five-inning, one-hit shutout, while striking out eight. The Cardinals provided Fulton with all the runs she would need as they sent across eight runs on four hits in the first and one run on one hit in the fourth.

McCartney led the Panthers at the plate, finishing the day 3-for-5, including a single to left in the second inning of game two that proved to be the difference in Fulton's perfect game bid.

ODU returns to Panther Field for their home finale at 3:30 p.m. this Wednesday, April 20 as Tiffin visits for a conference doubleheader.

Contact: Bryan Desch  
deschb@ohiodominican.edu