MASON, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican baseball team scored five unanswered runs during its season-opening 5-1 victory against Findlay on Friday afternoon at Prasco Park.

The Panthers have now won 10 of their last 11 season-opening games. Friday was also the Oilers first game of the 2021 season. ODU's appearance was its first game action in 353 days.

INDIVIDUAL NUMBERS

• Freshman Scott Rouse (Hinckley, Ohio) drew his first career start on the bump. Rouse earned the victory, pitching 6.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits. The freshman also struck out seven batters.
• Junior Thomas Staab (Bellville, Ohio) was the lone Panther with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and driven in. Staab and graduate senior Roger Danison (Carroll, Ohio) combined for four of ODU's seven stolen bases.
• Scoring a team-high two runs was graduate senior Jace Komminsk (Westerville, Ohio). Komminisk was 1-for-2 at the plate and walked twice.
• Combining for 2.1 of scoreless work in relief were freshman Tyler Sullivan (Cincinnati, Ohio) and sophomore Alex Brill (Amherst, Ohio). Brill began the game as ODU's starting center fielder.

MOMENTS THAT MATTER

• Findlay saw its first three batters reach safely in the top of the first inning. Rouse worked out of the jam, allowing just one run and Staab's diving catch in foul territory ended the Oiler threat.
• Ohio Dominican was quick to respond, as Staab, who led off by being hit by a pitch, crossed home plate on a wild pitch.
• The Panthers were held hitless for three innings, but a one-out single from Komminsk began the rally in the fourth frame. Komminsk, who stole second, then scored on a double from sophomore Derek Kutrubs (Brunswick, Ohio), putting ODU in front 2-1.
• After a lead-off double in the top of the third, Rouse retired eight of the next 10 batters. Both Findlay runners during the stretch were retired on double plays by the ODU defense.
• After the Oilers stranded two runners in the top of the sixth, the Panthers saw four of their first five batters in the bottom half reach safely. Komminsk led off with a walk and later scored on a wild pitch. Staab then drove in Kutrubs with a single to center field.
• Junior Zac Wilson (Hamilton, Ohio) gave ODU an additional insurance run in the seventh, as his single up the middle scored Danison, making the score 5-1.

UP NEXT

• The Panthers will return to Prasco Park on Saturday for games against Findlay and Notre Dame (OH). First pitches are slated for 1:30 and 4:30 p.m., respectively.

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@ohiodominican.edu