COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Dominican's baseball team rallied to take a 5-4 lead heading to the eighth inning against G-MAC foe Walsh, but the Cavaliers scored three times to come away with a 7-5 win Friday in Panther Valley.

The Panthers pounded out 14 hits in the game but left nine runners on base, including the tying run in the ninth, as ODU fell for just the fourth time at home this spring (12-4).

Down 4-0 heading to the fifth, ODU (28-11, 14-6 G-MAC) responded with four hits and put up three runs on RBI singles by senior Justin Childers (Pickerington, Ohio) and junior Colin Kaucher (Toledo, Ohio).

The Panthers then took advantage of a Walsh error with two outs in the seventh to load the bases, and junior Chris Sackett (Loveland, Ohio) delivered on a 3-2 pitch, smacking a two-run single to left center to give the Panthers their first lead of the game.

However, Walsh (21-16, 14-8 G-MAC) struck back by registering five singles, four coming on two-strike pitches, to plate three runs in the eighth and regain the lead.

ODU then stranded a runner in the eighth and put runners on the corners with two outs in the ninth, but could not score.

Junior Mitchell Bault (Maineville, Ohio) worked 7.0 innings and allowed five hits and three earned runs. He struck out six, tossing 60 of his 85 pitches for strikes.

Five Panthers had at least two hits, led by a 3-for-4 performance from Kaucher. Childers went 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs, junior Brad Hull (Gahanna, Ohio) and sophomore Bernee Sanchez (Grove City, Ohio) were each 2-for-4 and Sackett went 2-for-5.

ODU and Walsh will play a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Saturday in Panther Valley.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu