CEDARVILLE, Ohio -- Freshman Jordan Daniels (Blacklick, Ohio) made the most of his first collegiate home run, as his grand slam in the final inning of Game One led Ohio Dominican baseball to a doubleheader split at Cedarville on Saturday afternoon.

Trailing by four runs in the top of the seventh and final inning, Daniels launched his first home run over the left field fence with the bases loaded, leading to the Panthers' 6-5 win. Despite a late rally in Game Two by ODU, Cedarville won the series finale, 13-8. 

Ohio Dominican leaves the weekend with a 12-21 overall mark, including a 6-13 mark in Great Midwest play. Cedarville claimed three of the four games this weekend, improving to 17-18 overall, 11-8 in the G-MAC. 

GAME ONE RECAP

Ohio Dominican saw its first 10 batters retired and had just two hits through five innings of play. The Yellow Jackets led 5-0 after five complete. 

David Silva (Tontogany, Ohio) began the ODU offensive rally with an RBI double in the top of the sixth. A pair of walks, as well as a pinch hit single from Jack Mathey (Copley, Ohio) loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh. Daniels' heroics followed for the Black & Gold's first lead of the game. 

Max Whitesell (Dayton, Ohio) earned his first collegiate victory, striking out the only batter he saw with two runners on in the bottom of the sixth. Derek Bolander (Oregon, Ohio) made quick work of Cedarville in the bottom of the seventh, retiring the Yellow Jackets in order, including a pair of strikeouts for his second save of the spring. 

The Panthers posted seven hits in the contest. Silva and Thomas Staab (Bellville, Ohio) led the way, each going 2-for-3 with an RBI at the plate. 

GAME TWO RECAP

The two sides combined for seven runs in the third inning, six coming with two outs. Silva drove in both of ODU's runs in the frame with a double to right field. Cedarville scored five runs in the third, and a three-run homer in the fourth powered another five-run inning for the Yellow Jackets, who led 10-2.

The next six runs belonged to the Panthers, who began their comeback in the top of the fifth with a run-scoring double from Daniels, who then scored on a ground out by Silva. The duo of Daniels and Silva combined for seven hits, four for extra bases, and 11 runs driven in at the top of the lineup in Saturday's doubleheader.

ODU saw its first five batters reach via hit in the top of the seventh, resulting in four runs. Cedarville responded to the rally though, scoring three runs of its own in the frame, as it led 13-8 through seven complete. Jake Daniel (Troy, Ohio) had the only hit over the final two innings for the Panthers, a one-out double in the ninth. 

Four pitchers saw action in the nightcap, including Whitesell, who allowed two unearned runs on two hits over two innings of work. 

UP NEXT

Ohio Dominican is scheduled to break from conference play, as the Panthers return home to face Shepherd for a doubleheader at noon on Tuesday, April 19.

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@ohiodominican.edu