COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Dominican baseball team began its home and Great Midwest Athletic Conference slates Thursday, March 10.

The Panthers dropped the opening game to Tiffin, 4-3, snapping what was a six-game home winning streak dating back to 2021. ODU and Tiffin then saw Game Two suspended to darkness in the top of the seventh inning with the Panthers leading 12-6. ODU is three outs away from earning the win as play resumes Friday, March 11. 

GAME ONE

Ohio Dominican fell victim to a late run for the fourth time in five games in the opener, as Tiffin scored in the top of the eighth frame to secure a 4-3 victory. The Dragons outhit ODU 10-7, with the Black & Gold led by two hits each from Micahel Knapp (Elyria, Ohio) and Devan Nail (Elyria, Ohio). 

Falling behind by two runs early, ODU captured its first lead of the day with a three-run third inning. Zac Wilson (Hamilton, Ohio) led off the rally with a double after throwing out a runner attempting to steal in the top half of the frame. Despite a fielder's choice moving a Panther runner back first base, three walks in the next four batters plated the first ODU run. David Silva (Tontogany, Ohio) then drove in a pair with a two-out single to right. 

The Panthers (5-7) posted two hits in the fifth and two more in the eighth but could not add on to their third-inning scoring. The Dragons (6-10) tied the game with a solo homer in the top of the fourth, and a one-out base hit in the eighth gave them a 4-3 advantage. ODU was retired in order in the ninth to fall in Game One. 

GAME TWO

Tiffin again jumped out to an early lead, scoring twice in the top of the first inning. The Panthers though, similar to the first game, rallied to secure a 3-2 advantage. With two outs in the bottom of the second, Jack Mathey (Delaware, Ohio) launched his first collegiate home run over the left field fence. 

The Dragons added a run in the third and fourth innings, but a two-run base hit from Nail placed the Panthers on top, 5-4, through four-complete. Nail is one of four Panther batters with multiple hits in Game Two of the series. 

Still leading by one run in the fifth, ODU tagged Tiffin for six runs on five hits, as 10 batters recorded a plate appearance. Jake Daniel (Troy, Ohio) and Mathey each drove in a run with a base hit, while a Thomas Staab (Bellville, Ohio) plated another run to highlight the frame for ODU. The Panthers led 11-4.

Daniel drove in another run with a two-out single to right in the sixth, as the Black & Gold led 12-6 through six complete. With darkness looming, the umpires, coaches and game officials decided to suspend the final scheduled inning until Friday, March 11. 

The Panthers and Dragons have agreed to a 10 a.m. start on Friday, with the scheduled doubleheader following shortly after the conclusion of the suspended contest.

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@ohiodominican.edu