LAKELAND, Fla. – Behind strong starts from sophomore Brad Wilson (Alexandria, Ohio) and senior Kyle Burson (Brunswick, Ohio), Ohio Dominican's baseball team swept a doubleheader from Notre Dame College by scores of 4-0 and 11-2 Saturday at the Russ Matt Central Florida Invitational.

Wilson tossed a complete game shutout in the opener, scattering six hits in his seven innings of work while striking out 10. Wilson, who did not walk a batter, threw 81 of his 106 pitches for strikes in the ballgame.

In game two, Burson worked out of some jams early and kept the Falcons off the board for his five innings on the rubber. He allowed six hits, struck out two and walked just one batter.

The Panthers (6-1) led wire-to-wire in game one, as senior Tony Evans (Medway, Ohio) scored on an RBI single by junior Justin Childers (Pickerington, Ohio) in the first inning. Childers later came in to score on a fielder's choice grounder to give ODU a 2-0 lead.

A sacrifice fly by sophomore Genesis Hillard (Cincinnati, Ohio) put ODU in front 3-0 in the third, as Childers opened the frame with a double and went to third on a wild pitch. The Panthers closed their scoring in the fifth inning on Hillard's triple to center field, scoring sophomore Colin Kaucher (Toledo, Ohio).

Burson went 2-for-3 at the plate and Childers and Kaucher each went 2-for-4 for the Panthers.

ODU jumped out quickly in the second contest as well, with Evans starting the first with a triple and scoring on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Brad Hull (Gahanna, Ohio).

The Panthers then put the game away with consecutive four-run innings in the fourth and fifth. Junior Jake Collinsworth (Cincinnati, Ohio) had a two-run single in the fourth, and sophomore Noah Bland (Oberlin, Ohio) followed with his first career home run to put the Panthers in front 5-0.

Childers started the fifth inning with a solo shot to left, his first of the year, and Bland spanked a triple to left field that cleared the bases and put ODU on top 9-0.

Hillard capped the scoring by cranking a two-run blast to left in the sixth.

Evans, Childers, Kaucher, Hillard and Bland each had two hits in the second contest as ODU tallied a dozen in the contest. Bland drove in a career high 5 RBIs and Hillard scored three times as well.

The Panthers will take on Pace at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu