After a competitive out-of-conference schedule, softball opened up ODAC play last week.

The Panthers had three two-game series against Sweet Briar College, #9 Virginia Wesleyan, and #25 Lynchburg University.

Ferrum started on the right foot, sweeping Sweet Briar with a 10-0 win in game one, and a 3-2 win in game two.

“The team was fired up. We are hoping it will jump start the rest of the season,” Head Coach Joshua Freeman said.  “It was two team wins.  I thought the team played well in all four phases of the game, including having tons of energy and fight.”

Following the sweep, the team dropped the next four games against two, Top-25 teams.

Softball hosted #9 Virginia Wesleyan with game one resulting in a 10-0 loss and game two ending with a 13-3 loss.

Following, Lynchburg swept, beating the team 3-1 and 9-1 in two games.

“The pitching of VWU and LU are very strong.  (They have) Multiple all conference players,” Freeman said. “They also do the little things right most of the time.  Getting the bunt down, moving a runner, and throwing to the correct base.”

After the first week of ODAC games, a 2-4 record for the Panthers puts them tied for eighth in the standings.

“We need to continue to work hard and improve daily,” Freeman said on what the team needs to do to find their way into the playoffs.

To make the ODAC tournament, the team would need to be in the top eight in the conference.

But this week the team will have six more conference games ahead of them.  All on the road.

“Playing on the road is fun. We get to go have opportunities to win games at their place,” Freeman said.

Softball is no stranger to playing tough games on the road.  Of the team’s 22 games, 14 have been on the away.

The Panthers will travel to Roanoke on Tuesday, Bridgewater on Saturday, and EMU on Sunday.

“Every series is important. We are going to have to play well in all of them for a chance to make the conference championship,” Freeman said.