CLERMONT, Fla. - Senior catcher Sarah Schneidenbach hit the game-winning sacrifice fly to help DU secure a 6-5 win over NCAA DII University of Mary in a nine-inning thriller Friday afternoon as the Panthers ran their winning streak to 11 games. Schneidenbach knocked in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to help the Panthers sweep the day, and junior pitcher Emily Maves secured the decision in the circle with a complete game and 15 strike outs.

DU started their day with a convincing 8-0 win over Mount Vernon Nazarene in five innings. Mallory Teunissin dropped her 2016 ERA to 0.78 with a complete game shutout and eight strikeouts. The Panthers scored two runs in each of the second and third innings before a big four-run fifth helped DU take the game over the Cougars in five innings. Alyssa Eastman and Lindsay Tasma knocked back-to-back home runs before a Cougar error scored Nicole Vitale. Haley Obetts then hit a sacrifice fly to center field that drove in Beth Stroup and the Panthers earned the 8-0 victory.Eastman recorded a perfect 3-for-3 game at the plate with one RBI and three runs scored. Stroup had a 2-for-3 game with two RBI and one run scored.

The Panthers then had to battle NCAA DII University of Mary in their second game as DU needed extra innings to take the win. Maves (7-1) recorded the complete game and tied a career-high 15 strike outs to take the decision in the circle.

The two teams fought to a 1-1 tie heading into the eighth inning before the Marauders took a 5-1 lead in the top of the inning. The international tie-breaking rule put a runner on second to start the inning. UMary followed with a bunt single and the hitter advanced to second on an attempt to third base to catch the lead runner. Maves responded with a pair of strikeouts, but the Marauders managed to take the lead with the very next batter as the fourth pitch of an intentional walk hit the back stop and DU trailed 2-1. Following a walk, UMary knocked a bases-clearing double to right center and the Panthers found themselves in a 5-1 hole.

DU remained poised in their at bat as they came back to tie the game, 5-5. Carli SanMillan started the inning by reaching on an error by the shortstop to put runners on first and second as Schneidenbach was placed on second to begin their at bat. Aby Brambila hit a two RBI double as the next batter, and Eastman followed with a no-doubt two-run home run to left field that tied the game. Maves shut down UMary in the top of the ninth before the Panthers earned their victory in the bottom half of the inning.

McKenzie Rowe started the inning with a bunt single that moved Stroup, who was placed on second to start the at bat, over to third base. Rowe then stole second base and Obetts followed with a single that loaded the bases with no outs recorded. Schneidenbach came to the plate and hit a long fly ball to right field that sacrificed home Stroup for the game-winning run as DU outlasted the Marauders in a thriller. Eastman finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and Obetts recorded a 3-for-4 game with one RBI.

The Panthers are 11-1 on their spring trip and 13-2 overall. They will finish their play in Florida tomorrow (March 5) with games against No. 22 Bellevue and No. 10 Saint Xavier starting at 9 a.m.