DECATUR, Ala. – The second day of the Ringor Chillout was not kind to the Ohio Dominican softball team as the Panthers fell 3-0 to Franklin Pierce (NH) in the first game on Saturday afternoon, and suffered a 12-6 decision to Delta State (Miss.) in the nightcap. ODU now falls to 0-4 on the season. 

Rachel Allen went the distance for the Ravens in game one, allowing just two hits and tallied one strikeout.

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring early with a leadoff single through the left side in the bottom of the first inning for a 1-0 lead. The Ravens would tack on two more runs for the 3-0 advantage, which was enough for the victory. Statistical details for ODU from Game One were incomplete. 

In the nightcap, the Panthers fell to the Lady Statesmen by the score of 12-6.

Delta State jumped on board first in the bottom of the second inning after a bases loaded walk by sophomore Brandis Fishel (Gahanna, Ohio). The Statesmen tacked on two more runs on a single down the left field line. 

ODU responded in the top of the third inning, scoring a run after senior Brooke McCartney (Salem, Ohio) hit a sacrifice fly to deep right field.

The Panthers kept their momentum going into the top of the fourth inning when sophomore Taylor Thomas (Bellville, Ohio) smacked her first homerun of the season. Sophomore Alex Cribari (Lyndhurst, Ohio) followed up with an infield single and junior Caitlin Jividen (Wheeling, W.Va.) reached base on a throwing error. Jividen stole second and sophomore Taylor Mason (Belpre, Ohio) reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Cribari. Sophomore Brier Sanner (Hartville, Ohio) grounded out to short but scored Jividen from third. With McCartney at the plate, she singled through the right side, scoring Mason. 

The Statesmen bats came alive in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring eight runs on seven hits, putting them ahead, 8-4.

The Panthers earned a run back in the top of the fifth when Freshman Kelsey Albanese (Westerville, Ohio) scored on a throwing error by the Delta third basemen. 

However, it was not enough as Delta State tacked on run more run in the bottom of the sixth inning and held the Panthers offense scoreless in the seventh to seal the victory.

The Panthers are back in action Sunday, Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. against Kentucky Wesleyan and again at 3 p.m. against Northern Alabama. All game times are in Central Standard time.

Contact: Sarah Twiggs
twiggss@ohiodominican.edu