XENIA, Ohio – It may have been a nearly a year, but the Kentucky Wesleyan College softball team returned to the Great Midwest Conference Tournament as they left it, with a win. The Panthers, the seventh seed took down the University of Findlay 4-0 in the opening game at Athletes in Action Sports Complex.
 
Maci Brown dealt a complete-game shutout in the opener as Lexie Mullen provided the offense. The Panthers (26-24) become dangerous when the lead-off hitter, Meredith Daunhauer, gets on base as she did to start Wesleyan's Title defense.
 
A lead-off single followed by a stolen base immediately put Daunhauer in scoring position. Jaclyn Parker provided a one-out single to put runners on the corners. Mullen crushed the Hailey Bryan offering over the right-centerfield fence to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead.
 
That was all the run support that Brown needed, but for good measure Jamie Tempel added another run for the Panthers with a two-out double in the fourth inning. Brown worked quickly and without much stress into the seventh.
 
The Oilers' (27-21) Salwa Al-Hajabed led-off the final frame with line-drive to center that was caught by Daunhauer. Two errors prolonged the inning, but after two line-outs to Jaylin Tidwell at short, the game ended.
 
Brown allowed just four hits while striking-out eight. Daunhauer finished the game three for four with stolen base and a run scored. Mullen was two for three with a homerun and three RBIs. Tempel was two for three with a double and RBI.
 
The Panthers will get a few hours to break before taking on Ohio Dominican University. First pitch is scheduled for approximately 4 PM CT.