COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Dominican Panthers (17-13, 8-6 G-MAC) baseball team bounced back from a three-game losing streak in lopsided fashion with three straight wins with a big offensive output against the Tiffin Dragons (13-18, 8-9 G-MAC) this weekend.
Tiffin took the series opener 17-6 on Friday (April 5) before ODU won the doubleheader on Saturday (April 6) with scores of 5-2 and 8-7. The series ended on Sunday (April 7) with an 8-7 win for the Panthers.
Friday (L, 17-6 in 8 innings)
In the series opener, Tiffin scored seven runs in the first two innings.
Jordan Daniels (Blacklick, Ohio) walked in a run with the bases loaded in the second inning and then
Brennen Hunt (Ashland, Ohio) led off the third inning with a solo blast to left field. After four more Tiffin runs in the fourth, B. Hunt doubled home a run in the next half inning as ODU trailed 10-3 after four frames. Tiffin added four runs between the fifth and sixth innings to push the lead to 14-3.
CJ Dean (Columbus, Ohio) hit a solo home run to the left field berm before Daniels coaxed his second bases loaded walk of the afternoon in the seventh. Another three-run inning in the eighth for Tiffin grew the lead to 17-5. Following two singles,
Gianni Passarelli (Delaware, Ohio) ended the scoring with a RBI single as the game was ended after eight innings at 17-6.
B. Hunt,
Jonah Hane (Blacklick, Ohio) and Passarelli tallied two hits for the contest. Daniels and B. Hunt drove in two runs each while Daniels and
Jake Scherette (Brunswick, Ohio) walked twice. As a team, Ohio Dominican forced eight walks and had 12 hits.
Saturday Game 1 (W, 5-2)
The third inning started the scoring for the first game of Saturday's twinbill. Tiffin scored first with a run and a Dragons error forced home the tying run later in the frame. The game was tied until a four spot in the fourth for the Panthers.
Spencer Tammaro (New Albany, Ohio) led off with a double and a fielding error allowed Dean to reach base prior to a pitching change. Scherette scored Tammaro with a sacrifice fly to center field. A walk and double steal set the table for a two-run triple from Daniels. He ended up scoring on a wild pitch as ODU led 4-1 after four innings. Tiffin made it 5-2 in the fifth inning and that was the final score.
Daniels and Tammaro combined for four hits with two extra base hits together. Daniels scored twice as runs he drove in a pair.
Chase Hunt (Ashland, Ohio) earned the win with two runs allowed on five hits in five and one third innings.
Max Whitesell (Dayton, Ohio) picked up the save with one and two third innings of scoreless relief.
Saturday Game 2 (W, 8-7)
A back and forth affair entertained the crowd at Panther Valley for Alumni Day. With a run in the first inning, Tiffin saw their early lead evaporate with three ODU runs.
Peter Jelenic (Medina, Ohio) was hit by a pitch to open the game. An error on a sacrifice bunt put two runners on base. A RBI ground out by Tammaro tied the game before Dean drilled a two-run home run to left center field. After ODU led 3-1 after the first inning, Tiffin got a run back in the second inning. B. Hunt made it 4-2 with a solo homer in the second inning but Tiffin tied the game in the third inning with two runs.
Michael McFadden (Brunswick, Ohio) put the Panthers ahead 5-4 in the fourth frame with a home run to left field. Two Tiffin homers gave them a 7-5 lead as the game shifted to the final half of the inning.
B. Hunt started the seventh inning with a single and a booted ball to second base put the tying runs on base. A sacrifice bunt moved both into scoring position. Dean doubled home both runners with a screaming liner down the left field line. With Dean as the winning run at second, Tiffin pitcher Andrew Fairbrother committed a balk but offered the ball to the plate. With the ball in play at the moment, Passarelli lined a base hit to right field and Dean slid in past a stunned Dragons infield to walk it off 8-7.
B. Hunt, Dean and McFadden each finished with two hits (all with a home run). B. Hunt scored three runs with Dean plating four runs on his own (half of ODU's total).
Brian Allen (Troy, Ohio) allowed four runs (three earned) in four innings as the starter.
Andrew Deyhle (Cincinnati, Ohio) picked up the win with three runs allowed in three innings of work.
Sunday (W, 8-7)
For the first time in the series, Ohio Dominican notched a run on the scoreboard first in the second inning. Scherette singled home a run after a walk and a single, putting ODU on top. Tiffin tied the game in the third inning but one inning later, Ohio Dominican bounced back with a run to retake the lead. Dean opened the inning with a walk, he then swiped second base and moved on a wild pitch. Passarelli mimicked his Saturday walk-off with a RBI knock to right field. A two-run home run in the fifth inning put Tiffin back on top 3-2. A three-run sixth inning gave the Panthers a 5-3 lead. Scherette reached on a wild pitch from a strikeout while Daniels singled afterwards. Jelenic doubled home a pair of runs and scored on a passed ball. Two runs in the Tiffin seventh tied the game once again and the bottom of the seventh proved big for the Panthers. After a walk and a single,
Jacob Adams (Troy, Ohio) came off the bench with a RBI single of his own. A catcher's interference call loaded the bases for Daniels. He doubled home a pair of runs as the lead grew to 8-5. Two runs in the eighth inning got the Tiffin Dragons to 8-7 but ODU held off the late rally.
Lane Marshall (Wooster, Ohio), Dean, Passarelli and Daniels fueled the offensive attack with two hits each. Dean was on base five times with three walks and runs scored along with two steals.
Jared Hoersten (Oregon, Ohio) gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits in four and two third innings.
Chance Woods (Columbus, Ohio) tossed one and one third innings of scoreless relief to end the sixth inning with three strikeouts.
Derek Bolander (Oregon, Ohio) got the win while
Michael Lesiecki (Uhrichsville, Ohio) earned the save in the ninth inning.
Ohio Dominican will play at Cedarville on Friday (April 12) and Saturday (April 13).
