MASON, Ohio -  On a sunny and windy day in southwestern Ohio, the Ohio Dominican Panthers baseball team opened the 2023 season with a doubleheader against the University of Virginia's College at Wise Cavaliers on Saturday (Feb. 18). 

The Panthers dropped the first game 8-3 before earning a doubleheader split with a 7-1 win in the second game at Legacy Field. 

GAME ONE

The Cavaliers jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first two innings before ODU was threatening in the third inning.

David Silva (Tontogany, Ohio) managed a two-out walk and proceeded to steal second with Lane Marshall (Wooster, Ohio) walking as well. Both runners stole a base to put a pair of Panthers in scoring position but could not capitalize. 

In the fifth inning, Silva singled and stole second base for his third swipe of the game. 

Virginia-Wise added a fifth run in the top of the sixth inning for an 5-0 advantage. 

Ohio Dominican made a run at the Cavaliers in the bottom of the sixth, as they put the tying run on base. Following the first two outs, Michael McFadden (Brunswick, Ohio) was hit by a pitch. Alex Brill (Amherst, Ohio) delivered with a RBI triple past a diving center fielder to score McFadden all the way from first. After two walks by Jesse Kramer (Strongsville, Ohio) and Jordan Daniels (Blacklick, Ohio), the Cavaliers made a pitching change with the bases loaded. Brennen Hunt (Ashland, Ohio) hit a ground ball to short, as two runners scored on an error by the shortstop. The Panthers made it 5-3 as the game headed to the seventh inning. 

Virginia-Wise avenged the three runs in the sixth with three runs in the top of the seventh to win 8-3. 

Brill, Silva and Jack Mathey (Copley, Ohio) each had hits in the contest. 

Derek Bolander (Oregon, Ohio) made his first career start, going four innings with three hits allowed, giving up four runs (one earned) with three strikeouts. 

Michael Lesiecki (Uhrichsville, Ohio) threw three innings of relief work with two strikeouts. 

GAME TWO

ODU came out swinging in the first inning, jumping out on the first pitch of the game. Silva lifted a fly ball to center field for a 1-0 lead. Marshall and Mathey followed with singles to left field to threaten further. Michael Knapp (Elyria, Ohio) reached on a fielder's choice and stole second to put two more runners in scoring position. The Panthers could not add more, sitting on a 1-0 lead. 

Silva continued his hot day with a RBI single in the second inning, plating Jake Scherette (Brunswick, Ohio) who doubled earlier. 

One inning later, Ohio Dominican made it 6-0 with a big third frame. Marshall led off with a walk. After a sacrifice bunt, Knapp singled and the cut-off throw got away from the first baseman to allow Marshall and Knapp to be in scoring position. Brill walked to loaded the bases. Michael O'Callaghan (Morrow, Ohio) was hit by a pitch, scoring Marshall. After a call of the bullpen, Kramer tripled down the right field line, clearing the bases. 

The Cavaliers got on the board in the sixth inning with a run. Later in the sixth inning, Hunt blasted a ball off the foul pole in left field to cap the scoring at 7-1. 

Senior Marshall Flynn (Heath, Ohio) went the distance with his first career complete game. He tossed seven innings of one-run ball with four hits allowed and eight strikeouts. 

Seven different players scored a run and got a hit with Silva being the only one to have a multi-hit game. In total, nine players reached base in the course of the game.

The series will conclude on Sunday (Feb. 19) with a single nine-inning game at Legacy Field on the campus of Prasco Park. First pitch is at high noon. 

Contact: Tyler Stotsky
stotskyt@ohiodominican.edu