COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Alex Brill (Amherst, Ohio) went deep twice and Ohio Dominican baseball scored nine runs in the first two innings to cruise to an 11-2 victory in the series opener against Grand Valley State Thursday afternoon in Panther Valley. 

Ohio Dominican won its second straight game, improving to 8-12 overall. Grand Valley, who enters the series receiving votes in both national Top 25 polls, falls to 13-7 overall. The 11 runs ties a season high, which also came at Frank Damian Field against Tiffin (3/10). 

The offense was alive from the start, as ODU scored four runs in the bottom half of the first inning. The Panthers scored three runs with two outs, a rally headlined by a RBI double from Devan Nail (Elyria, Ohio). The Black & Gold tacked on five additional runs in the second frame, including a two-run double by Jake Daniel (Troy, Ohio) and a two-run bomb by Brill. 

Ohio Dominican led 9-0 after two complete innings. 

Brill added his second home run of the game and third in the past two outings in the bottom of the seventh. A two-out single from Daniel in the eighth scored David Silva (Tonotgany, Ohio), giving ODU the 11-2 advantage. 

Five Panthers produced multi-hit performances, including Silva and Brill who had three hits each. Brill and Daniel each drove in four runs as well. Michael Knapp (Elyria, Ohio) and Lane Marshall (Wooster, Ohio) added two hits also. Overall, ODU enjoyed a 14-5 edge in hits over the Lakers. 

On the mound, Scott Rouse (Hinckley, Ohio) earned his second win of the season. Rouse tossed eight innings, allowing two unearned runs on four hits, while striking out seven. Mason Lowder (Westerville, Ohio) pitched the final frame for the Panthers, conceding one hit in a scoreless appearance. 

Ohio Dominican and Grand Valley will continue their series with a doubleheader beginning at noon, Friday, March 25. 

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@ohiodominican.edu