CANTON, Ohio - The Ohio Dominican Panthers (19-27, 14-18 G-MAC) baseball team concluded the 2026 regular season in a road series against the Malone Pioneers (24-24, 13-19 G-MAC) at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium.
Malone took the first two games on Friday (May 1) with wins of 14-1 and 7-1. The Panthers got a split on Saturday (May 2) with a nightcap win in ten innings of 5-3 after Malone won the first game 4-1.
Game 1 (Friday - L, 14-1 in 7 innings)
- Malone started the scoring with three runs in the first inning, two in the third inning and four runs in the fourth inning.
- The Panthers were held without a hit until one out in the sixth inning, breaking up the bid with a one-out triple by Gavin Lawler. Lawler scored on an error by the Malone shortstop, getting ODU on the board.
- Five more runs in the sixth inning closed out game one with a 14-1 win for Malone in seven innings.
- Lawler had the lone hit for the Panthers while Noah Schacht and Tristan Schuerman each walked.
- Steven Chapman (L, 1-5) started the game for the Panthers and allowed eight runs (four earned) in three innings. Bryson Shumate and Andrew Mouch combined for six runs (one earned) given up in three innings.
Game 2 (Friday - L, 7-1 in 7 innings)
- Lawler started the game with a solo home run to left field on the fourth pitch of the game. ODU was threatening with the bases loaded and one out but could not add on.
- Malone tied the game with a run in the second inning before adding three more in the third for a 4-1 lead.
- The Pioneers cashed in three runs with the bases loaded in the sixth inning for a 7-1 lead and completed the Friday sweep.
- Lawler and Grant Horne had two hit games at the top of the lineup. Braden Reed and Carson Willis each singled while Willis added a walk.
- Colin Hennessey (L, 1-3) gave up four runs in 3.2 innings on four hits and three walks. Eric Geddes allowed three runs in 1.2 innings while Jeremy Ramirez got his two outs via strikeout.
Game 3 (Saturday - L, 4-1 in 7 innings)
- The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and held it until ODU tied the game in the fourth inning. Schacht singled and came around to score. A wild pitch got him to second base and scored on a throwing error when Reed had an infield single.
- Malone scored the final three runs of the day between the fourth and fifth innings, winning 4-1 and taking the series.
- Willis, Schacht and Reed all singled in the game as ODU notched three hits.
- Jaxson Stried (L, 0-6) pitched well with two runs (one earned) allowed in four innings with five strikeouts. Jack Knight followed with two runs given up in 1.2 innings of relief and Brody Mann got the final out of the sixth inning.
Game 4 (Saturday - W, 5-3 in 10 innings)
- ODU scored first in their first at-bat for the second time in the series. Horne singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Willis. Chapman singled home Horne with a ball up the middle as ODU led 1-0.
- Three innings later, the Panthers added on two runs for a 3-0 lead. Mason Kurtz was hit by a pitch with one out. Tryce Chaffin singled to put runners at the corners. Chaffin broke for second base and the throw was awry from the catcher, scoring Kurtz and getting Chaffin to third base. Will Schirmer singled home Chaffin with a knock to center field.
- Malone tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the fourth.
- Andrew Holcomb (W, 1-1) pitched out of jams with two runners on base and one out in the fifth and sixth innings to keep the game tied at three.
- The game went to extra innings, tied at three with postseason implications. With a runner (Horne) placed at second base, Willis put down a sacrifice bunt to move Horne to third base. The throw went wide of first base and Horne scored with Willis getting to second. A wild pitch moved Willis into scoring position where he later scored on a RBI pinch-hit single by Garrett Roach.
- In the bottom half of the tenth, Malone got the leadoff man on by a hit by pitch. A bunt attempt allowed the lead runner to be thrown out and ODU got the win with the final two outs.
- Chaffin led with two hits for the Panthers as well as a stolen base. Reed walked twice with Horne, Chapman, Will Marrero, Roach and Schirmer all getting singles.
- Landon Ringhiser scattered three runs (two earned) in four innings with two hits and one walk allowed. Holcomb came in and tossed five scoreless frames with five strikeouts. Jared Hoersten (Sv, 1) pitched a scoreless tenth inning for his first save of the season.
With the win in the series finale, Ohio Dominican has potentially clinched the final spot in the 2026 Great Midwest Baseball Tournament. The official bracket is set to be announced on Sunday (May 3).
Â
