COLUMBUS, Ohio – Sophomore Brooklyn Rayburn (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) had two extra base hits in 54 career at bats entering the seventh inning on Saturday against Northwood, but picked a clutch time to add to that total as her first career homer was a walkoff blast that gave Ohio Dominican's softball team a 3-2 win.

ODU's offense had been stymied all game as the Panthers were no-hit through the first five innings and trailed 1-0 going to the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore Taylor Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) broke up the no-no with a solid single back up the middle with one out in the inning, then went to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Kelly Mix (Baltimore, Ohio).

Sophomore Cameron Barber (Powell, Ohio) stepped in and fell behind 0-2, but would eventually line a single to left that chased home Farmer to even the game.

Northwood countered with a run on a two-out single in the seventh to regain the lead at 2-1, but the Panthers had an answer.

Freshman Raemon Meents (Downers Grove, Ill.) started the bottom half with a line drive single off the pitcher's glove and into center field, and would later take second on a sacrifice by sophomore Landry Slider (Stow, Ohio).

Rayburn then stepped into the box, worked ahead in the count 2-0, then crushed a line drive to straight away center where the only question would be if it was high enough. The ball cleared the fence, sending the Panthers jubilantly out to home plate to celebrate the win.

Barber picked up the win in the circle, going the distance and allowing nine hits and the two runs while striking out five. She threw 68 of her 103 pitches for strikes and improved to 3-1 on the year with her third complete game, lowering her ERA to 2.89.

The Panthers and Timberwolves will conclude their series with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Sunday at Panther Field.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu