COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican baseball team's early season struggles continued in Ormond Beach, Florida as they wrapped up the remaining days of the trip falling in five of their final seven games. ODU compiled an uncharacteristic 3-7 record during their annual spring trip and returned home with a 3-10 overall mark.
The still young Ohio Dominican baseball team is still looking for their identity as they continue to battle through a rough start to the season. Pitching was an early season question mark for the Panthers, but after posting a 3.56 ERA during their southern swing the young arms weren't the down fall. The Panthers also hit over .310 as a team on their spring trip, yet it was the lack of timely hitting that was the Achilles heel for ODU as five of their seven losses were decided by two runs or less.
The Panthers (3-10) took on the University of St. Francis (Ill.) in three of the games, losing to the Fighting Saints by scores of 4-1 and 9-8 before grabbing a victory in game three 12-2. ODU could not continue their momentum as they fell 9-5 in their next contest to the Knights of Marian University. The Panthers split a twin bill with Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) taking down the Tigers 3-2 in game one, before falling 4-2 in the second game. ODU concluded their trip on a sour note losing 1-0 to the University of St. Francis (Ind.) Cougars.
Leading the way for the Panthers during the trip was John Lydic (Jr./Gahanna, OH) who collected 12 hits in 34 at-bats including a 3-for-5 performance in game one against the Fighting Saints. Eian Banks (Sr./Delaware, OH; pictured) recorded 12 hits over the break including a perfect 3-for-3 day in the Panthers victory over St. Francis and a 4-for-4 outburst in the loss to Marian.
Freshman Jose Roja (Toa Baja, PR) collected his first collegiate victory in game three versus St. Francis (Ill.) allowing two earned runs on five hits while striking out three in 4.2 innings of work. Drew McGlone (Fr./Circleville, OH) also grabbed his first collegiate victory on the hill going eight strong innings, surrendering just one earned run on five hits while fanning five in the Panthers 3-2 decision over ONU.
ODU will look turn around a tough spring trip as they return home to host former AMC foe Malone University in a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 17th in their first game in Panther Valley. Game one between the Pioneers and Panthers is set for 1 p.m.
