WEST LIBERTY, W. Va. - Finishing the backend of a home-and-home midweek series with the West Liberty Hilltoppers (6-12), the Ohio Dominican Panthers (9-11) headed to West Virginia on Wednesday (March 25) afternoon. 

The Panthers used five multi-run innings to win 20-8 over the Hilltoppers, completing the sweep of the two-game series spanning two weeks. 

Ohio Dominican started with four runs home before the home team came to bat. Gavin Lawler and Steven Chapman both walked and completed a double steal before Will Marrero singled home both runners. After Tryce Chaffin walked, an error off the bat of Mason Kurtz brought home Marrero. Kurtz stole second and the final run came off a wild pitch. 

West Liberty used three runs to trim the lead to 4-3 after one inning. ODU added on in the second inning, pushing the lead to 6-3. Grant Horne singled and swiped second base with Lawler walking for a second time in as many innings. Chapman doubled home both runners, making it a three-run lead. 

Another four-run frame for the Panthers in the fourth inning made it 10-3. Following a pitching change, Lawler and Chapman were both walked to start the frame. An error by the pitcher scored Lawler and a third walk to Kurtz loaded the bases. Noah Schacht cleared the bags with a three-run double. 

A sacrifice fly by Chapman in the fifth inning and a two-run home run by Schacht in the sixth inning allowed ODU to lead 13-3. 

The Hilltoppers got five runs back in the bottom of the sixth inning, closing the lead to 13-8.

A seven-run seventh for the Panthers blew the game open. With Lawler doubling and Chapman walking, Eric Geddes doubled both runners home. Braden Reed and Sawyer Hamsher walked to load the bases with no outs. Tristan Schuerman singled Geddes and Reed home. Will Schirmer singled home Schuerman and Hamsher while Lawler ended the inning with his second double. When the inning ended, it was 20-8 Panthers. 

The Panthers scored a season-high 20 runs on 15 hits with 13 walks. Lawler, Marrero, Schacht and Schirmer all had two hits. Schacht plated five runs with his two extra-base hits. Lawler managed to walk three times with two doubles while scoring four times. Chapman tied the D2 era record with four walks in a game with three runs and RBI. 

Aidan Piatt started with three runs (one earned) allowed in two innings with three strikeouts. Jack Knight (W, 1-0), Nick Cody, Joey Helms, Chris Bartholomew, Lawler and Parker Evans all pitched scoreless frames. The pitching staff combined for 11 strikeouts. 

The Panthers will head to Michigan to open a four-game series with Hillsdale on Friday (March 27).