Fresno Pacific Eliminates ODU from Opening Round
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican baseball team had its season come to an end on Wednesday afternoon as No. 2 seed and host of Group 6 Fresno Pacific (Ca.) cruised to a 15-1 victory in an elimination game of the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round in Fresno, California.
The Panthers (22-29) looking to salvage a disappointing season struggled to find any offense versus the No. 11 ranked Sunbirds on their home field. Fresno Pacific (36-16) starter Kelyn Schellenberg kept ODU off balance as he went six innings allowing one run on five hits.
ODU's lone run came in the sixth inning thanks to a sac fly from John Bowron (So./Dayton, OH). The Panthers threatened in the third, fourth and fifth, but didn't break into the scoring column until the sixth inning. Felix Brown (Jr./ Philipsburg, St. Maarten) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and advance to second on a single by Eian Banks (Sr./Delaware, OH). JT Feldkamp (Jr./Lorain, OH) then grounded out moving up the runners and Bowron's fly ball to center field led to the only run of the day for ODU.
The Sunbirds had little trouble getting on the board as they opened the game with a pair of runs in the first inning. Fresno Pacific continued to apply the pressure as they added two more in the third and four in the fourth to take a 8-0 lead. A seven run sixth led to quick ending for the Panthers as they fell to the Sunbirds.
Nick Venditti (Fr./Brecksville, OH) suffered the loss, only his second of the year, as he went 3.2 innings allowing eight runs on nine hits. ODU used four different pitchers, but couldn't slow down the Sunbirds in the mercy rule decision.
Fresno Pacific will face the University of British Columbia in their second elimination game Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
