COLUMBUS, Ohio - Wrapping up a five game stretch in a three day span, the Ohio Dominican Panthers (4-7) battled the West Liberty Hilltoppers (1-8) on Tuesday (March 10) at Frank Damian Field at Panther Valley. 

After trailing 6-1 early on, the Panthers rallied for an 11-9 win over the Hilltoppers in the first game of home-and-home non-conference series. 

West Liberty opened the game with a two-run home run in the first inning, taking a 2-0 lead. The Panthers cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second on two hits. Carson Willis sent a leadoff double to right center field and then scored on a RBI single by Grant Horne. 

Four runs scored in the third inning by the Hilltoppers gave the visitors a 6-1 advantage. The rally began for the Panthers with a pair of runs for the bottom half of the third. Steven Chapman singled and Gavin Lawler delivered a two-run home run to left field, putting the Panthers within three at 6-3.

After a solo home run in the fourth inning for West Liberty, another big blast for the Panthers capped a three-run fourth frame. A throwing error and a double by Will Schirmer put two runners in scoring position. Tryce Chaffin added a sacrifice fly and Chapman made it a 7-6 game with a two-run blast to left center field. 

West Liberty scored single runs in the fifth and seventh innings, adding to a 9-6 lead at the seventh inning stretch. 

Ohio Dominican completed the rally with four runs in the seventh inning. Willis doubled for the second time in the game, this time a RBI double after a single and a walk. Horne plated his second RBI single of the day, putting runners on the corners. Will Marrero came off the bench with a pinch-hit, game-tying RBI single. Schirmer gave the Panthers a 10-9 lead with a RBI single. 

An ODU insurance run crossed the plate in the eighth inning on an fielding error. With the tying run at the plate, West Liberty could not close the lead as ODU won 11-9. 

Chapman, Lawler, Willis, Schirmer and Horne all had two hits, accounting for ten of the 12 hits. Three of the five (Chapman, Lawler and Horne) drove in two runs apiece. 

Seven different pitchers toed the rubber for the Panthers. Chris Bartholomew started and allowed six runs in 2.2 innings. Eric Geddes, Aidan Piatt and Brody Mann (W, 1-0) each allowed one run in their outings of at least one inning. Parker Evans, Lawler and Andrew Mouch (Sv, 1) all pitched scoreless innings. 

The Panthers' current homestand continues with four games against Lake Erie at home this weekend. Conference play begins on Saturday (March 14).