WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Strong pitching performances by sophomore Ryan Colegate (Centerville, Ohio) and junior Ryan Bidwell (Syracuse, N.Y.) highlighted the day as Ohio Dominican's baseball team split a Monday doubleheader with Saint Joseph's (Ind.) College, falling 2-0 in the opener before tallying a 9-2 victory.

Colegate tossed a complete game in the opener, punching out five in 6.0 innings but suffering the defeat.

Senior Bryan Rudolph (Pickerington, Ohio) reached base twice – first on an error in the third inning, then on a triple in the fifth – but the rest of the offense was stifled as ODU (4-4) was held to just that one hit.

Colegate allowed a two-out, two-run single in the third, the lone damage against him. It was the longest outing of his career and his first career complete game.

In game two, Bidwell shined in his debut with ODU as he limited the Pumas to six hits and two runs in 6.0 innings. He struck out five and walked just one.

ODU's offense got on track early, with senior Drew Ryan (Newark, Ohio) singling, swiping second and coming in to score on an error in the first inning.

An RBI basehit by sophomore Jacob Horsley (Thornville, Ohio) scored senior Jossue Delgado (Barinas, Venezuela) in the third to give ODU a 2-1 lead, and the Panthers broke free with a four-run fourth inning.

After ODU loaded the bases, Delgado had an RBI single, and senior Anthony Raschilla (Girard, Ohio) delivered the big blow as he cleared the bases with a double to make it 6-1 in favor of ODU.

Senior Phil Jaskot (Upper Arlington, Ohio) had an RBI basehit in the fifth and junior Marcus Schluessler (Zanesville, Ohio) capped the scoring with a two-run single to give the Panthers a 9-2 advantage.

Rudolph had two hits and ODU took advantage of five Puma errors to come away with the victory.

The Panther pitching staff lowered its ERA to 2.71 through eight games and has allowed just 65 hits in 63.0 innings.

ODU takes on Mankato State at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu