COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican baseball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Shepherd on Tuesday afternoon in Panther Valley.

Behind a late two-run home run from Alex Brill (Amherst, Ohio), ODU claimed the first of two seven-inning games by a final score of 5-4. Shepherd then won the second contest, 19-6. The split moves the Panthers to 13-22 overall, while the Rams go to 13-17-1.

GAME ONE

The Black & Gold recorded only four hits offensively in the opener, but after the first two innings, relied on its pitching staff to stay competitive. Billy Criblez (Mantua, Ohio) had the longest outing of his collegiate career, pitching the first 5.2 innings. Criblez allowed four runs on four hits, while striking out a career-high eight batters.

Shepherd scored three runs in the top of the first inning, but in the bottom half, Jake Daniel (Troy, Ohio) drove in a run with a ground out, and Michael Knapp (Elyria, Ohio) stole third and scored on an errant throw. The Rams added an additional run in the second and led 4-2.

The Panthers loaded the bases in the fourth, with Brill driving in one run to close the deficit to 4-3. Shepherd looked to add to its lead in the top of the sixth with the bases loaded, but Myles Martinez (Columbus, Ohio) struck out a Ram batter looking to get out of the jam.

Martinez faced three batters in the game, registering two strikeouts and one walk. The left-hander improved to 3-1 this spring.

Daniel led off the bottom of the sixth with a base hit. Three batters later, with two outs, Brill's heroics occurred, as he lined a shot over the left field fence, giving ODU a 5-4 advantage.

Martinez struck out the first batter of the seventh before giving way to Derek Bolander (Oregon, Ohio). After conceding a one-out walk, Bolander induced a fly out and ground out to secure the Panther win and his third save of the season.

GAME TWO

Shepherd scored multiple runs in all but the seventh inning, including a four-run second and six-run third inning. The Rams outhit ODU 13-9 in the contest, while also taking advantage of 13 walks by the Panther staff.

Lane Marshall (Wooster, Ohio) posted his fourth multiple hit game in the nightcap, including a solo shot to right field in the bottom of the fourth. Michael McFadden (Brunswick, Ohio) plated two runs in the first with a double down the left field line.

Brock Bernard (Springboro, Ohio), Jesse Kramer (Strongsville, Ohio) and Phil Stauffer (Orrville, Ohio) all recorded their first hits as Panthers in the contest, with Bernard and Kramer each driving in a run, while Stauffer scored twice. Senior pitcher Brendan Hofacre (Chardon, Ohio) also logged his first collegiate hit with a pinch hit single in the seventh.

UP NEXT

Ohio Dominican is scheduled to travel to Walsh to conclude a conference series on Wednesday, April 20. Due to weather in Northeast Ohio, start time and location can still be updated. Follow ohiodominicanpanthers.com, and our Twitter, @ODUAthletics, for schedule revisions.

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@ohiodominican.edu