MASON, Ohio - The Ohio Dominican Panthers (27-22) baseball team opened the 2024 Great Midwest Baseball Tournament with a battle against the Findlay Oilers (28-20) on Wednesday (May 8) at Legacy Field.
Missed opportunities in key spots did not help the Panthers as they tried to claw back from a 6-0 deficit, falling 8-4 in the Pool A matchup between the #3 and #6 seeds.
Findlay used three-run home runs in the first and third innings to develop a 6-0 lead over the Panthers.
The Panthers had two runners on base in the first, second and fourth innings but could not get a run home to cut into the deficit.
In the fifth inning, Ohio Dominican finally got on the board.
Jack Mathey (Copley, Ohio) doubled before
CJ Dean (Columbus, Ohio) singled to move him to third base.
Spencer Tammaro (New Albany, Ohio) singled home Mathey as the lead shrunk to 6-1.
As Findlay went to the bullpen in the seventh inning, the Panthers pushed three runs across with four hits and an error.
Lane Marshall (Wooster, Ohio) led off with a double with Dean following with a RBI double of his own. Tammaro plated another RBI single with the game becoming 6-3.
Drew Emerson (Germantown, Ohio) reached on a fielder's choice as an error pushed Tammaro to second base.
Michael Knapp (Elyria, Ohio) doubled in Tammaro as ODU got within two runs.
Two Oiler runs came home in the eighth inning as Findlay led 8-4.
ODU loaded the bases in the top of the ninth and one out but could get any closer than four runs.
Ohio Dominican outhit the Oilers 13-11, leaving 14 runners on base. Dean had three hits in the game with Marshall, Mathey, Tammaro and
Jordan Daniels (Blacklick, Ohio) all having two hits. Daniels also swiped two bases of his own.
Derek Bolander (Oregon, Ohio) pitched three innings with six runs allowed and four strikeouts, taking the loss.
Trayce Mercer (Troy, Ohio) gave up two runs in four and two thirds innings of relief.
Max Whitesell (Dayton, Ohio) closed the game with the final out and giving up two hits and one walk.
Ohio Dominican will play in a Pool A elimination game on Thursday (May 9) at 11:15 AM against the Northwood Timberwolves on Legacy Field.
