WILSON, N.C. -- Senior Joey Machuga (Canfield, Ohio) recorded three hits in four at-bats, but drove in Ohio Dominican baseball's only run during an 8-1 setback to Cal (Pa.) on Sunday afternoon at Fleming Stadium. 

The Panthers (2-10), who were playing for the third consecutive day, outhit the Vulcans, 9-6. Sophomores Manny Vorhees (Wapakoneta, Ohio) and Thomas Staab (Bellville, Ohio) were each 2-for-4 Sunday. Machuga now has multiple hits in five games this season, including three of the team's first four outings on the N.C. trip. 

Freshman Alex Brill (Amherst, Ohio) drew his second start of the season, pitching the first three innings, allowing two earned runs. Brill face a team-high 18 batters. Redshirt junior Ben Speer (Mason, Ohio) tossed 2.1 innings in releif, conceding just one run and no hits. Speer added five strikeouts, his first five-strikeout performance since March 24, 2019. 

Cal scored in each of the first three innings to take an early 4-0 advantage. ODU was able to close its deficit to three runs, 4-1, after back-to-back doubles from graduate senior Roger Danison (Carroll, Ohio) and Machuga. 

The Panthers though, tallied just two hits over the final four innings, while the Vulcans (6-4) tacked on one run in the sixth and three runs in the eighth inning to win 8-1. 

Ohio Dominican will take its first off day during its N.C. trip on Monday. The Panthers will next face No. 3/4 Catawba at 2 p.m., Tuesday, March 10.

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@ohiodominican.edu