AUSTIN, Texas – Even with the warmer temperatures of the Texas sun, Ohio Dominican's softball team's bats were put on ice at St. Edward's as the Hilltoppers swept the Panthers, 2-1 and 2-0, Monday at Diane Daniels Field in Austin.

The St. Edward's starting pitching duo of Paige Sandahl and Sara DeBrow combined to allow to just the one run on five hits and four walks, striking out 20 Panthers on the afternoon as the Hilltoppers ran their record to 14-11, while ODU fell to 3-5 overall with its third straight setback. 

Sandahl held ODU to just three hits in the opener, fanning nine and walking two for her seventh victory of the season.

St. Edward's opened the scoring early with a one-out single and an RBI double to right center in the bottom of the first inning for the 1-0 lead. Senior Kylee Crislip (Louisville, OH) knotted the game in the fourth with her first homerun of the season, a one-out, solo shot to left.

The Hilltoppers added what proved to be the game-winning score in the fifth with an RBI single up the middle that followed a two-out triple to left center. The Panthers threatened in the seventh as junior Brooke McCartney (Salem, OH) reached on a fielder's choice bunt then stole second following Crislip's single through the right side. Sophomore Rebekha Lucas (Laurelville, OH) walked and classmate Caitlin Jividen (Wheeling, W.V.)  advanced the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt, however Sandahl induced her season-high tying ninth strikeout to seal the win.

Freshman starter Kendall Lust (Marion, OH) kept the Panthers' chances alive allowing just six hits and the two earned runs, while striking out two and walking none, yet it was not enough as she suffered her third loss in the circle.

In the nightcap, DeBrow continued the Hilltoppers' mastery in the circle, whiffing a collegiate-best 11 batters for her seventh win and eighth complete game of the year. ODU could only muster a pair of singles from Crislip and freshman Taylor Thomas (Bellville, OH) in the first two frames as DeBrow allowed only one base runner to reach second, while retiring the side three times over the final five innings.

Freshman Rachael Stanzel (Angleton, TX) took her second straight loss on the rubber despite surrendering just two earned runs, one in both the second and fourth frames, on seven hits and no walks.

The Panthers will look to rebound tomorrow as they head to Lone Star Conference member Texas A&M Kingsville for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.

Contact: Bryan Desch
deschb@ohiodominican.edu