COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican baseball team received pitching gems from Billy Criblez (Mantua, Ohio) and Michael Lesiecki (Uhrichsville, Ohio), while the offense belted four home runs during Tuesday afternoon's home doubleheader sweep over Indianapolis.

The Panthers (17-25), winners of three straight and four of their past five games, blasted all four of their long balls in the series opener, a 13-3 win. ODU then outlasted the Greyhounds (19-22) in the final game of the day, 2-1.

GAME ONE

Jake Daniel (Troy, Ohio) supplied the power in the opener, launching two home runs, adding a single, four RBI and three runs scored. Thomas Staab (Bellville, Ohio) and Jack Mathey (Copley, Ohio) also supplied two-run homers.

The Panthers outhit UIndy 9-4, but also took advantage of their plate discipline, drawing nine walks. Brennen Hunt (Ashland, Ohio) joined Daniel with multiple hits and scored twice.

Criblez tossed his first collegiate complete game, conceding three unearned runs on four hits. Criblez struck out just one batter, but needed just 84 total pitches and allowed only one hit over the final three innings.

Daniel got the rally started, belting a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. The senior homered again in the third and ODU led 3-2 after three complete.

The Panthers scored in all but the second inning, including a four-run fourth frame. ODU walked six times in the fourth, an offensive rally highlighted by a RBI single by Daniel.

Both Mathey and Staab homered in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Black & Gold the 13-3 lead.

GAME TWO

ODU and UIndy combined for only 10 hits in the second half of the doubleheader, with the Panthers holding a slight 6-4 advantage. Both sides committed one error also.

Six different Panthers registered one hit, including Michael Knapp (Elyria, Ohio), who drove in a run in the bottom of the first with a single to center, and later scored in the frame on a wild pitch.

The Greyhounds only run came on a RBI groundout in the top of the third inning. Lesiecki retired the first six batters he faced before allowing a leadoff double in the third.

Lesiecki retired UIndy in order in the fourth and fifth innings as well, and allowed just one base runner in his final inning in the sixth. The sophomore conceded three hits in the outing, striking out three batters.

Derek Bolander (Oregon, Ohio) earned his fifth save of the season, working around a hit and defensive error to keep the Panthers in front. With the tying runner just 90 feet away, Gianni Passarelli (Delaware, Ohio) caught a line drive at second base to secure the win.

The pitching staff was aided by highlight-level defensive plays from the left side of the infield by Hunt and Michael McFadden (Brunswick, Ohio). Lane Marshall (Wooster, Ohio) produced a strong glove at first base as well.

UP NEXT

The Panthers will resume Great Midwest play with a four-game series at Malone this weekend. The series is set to begin at noon, Friday, April 29.

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@ohiodominican.edu