MASON, Ohio - For the 2026 Great Midwest Baseball Championship, the Ohio Dominican Panthers (19-28) baseball team was set to battle the top seeded Ashland Eagles (36-14) as the eighth seed at Prasco Park on Wednesday (May 6) evening.
Ashland used a big second inning to slow the Panthers in the opener of Pool B play, winning 6-2.
Four runs in the second inning gave the Eagles a 4-0 lead, coming on four hits and an error.
The Panthers got a run back in the third inning, cutting into the Ashland lead. After two groundouts,
Grant Horne and
Carson Willis singled to put runners at first and second base.
Steven Chapman hit a ball at the third baseman that trickled away, scoring Horne as the game was 4-1.
Two more runs scored in the third inning for the Eagles, pushing the lead to 6-1.
Despite having multiple chances to respond in the game, the Panthers scored a run in the eighth inning and looked to rally a little more.
Tryce Chaffin reached on an one out, infield single.
Sam Battles singled for his third hit of the game, moving Chaffin to third base.
Will Schirmer singled home Chaffin with a RBI knock to right field. Ashland went to the bullpen and got the final out of the inning.
ODU had nine hits in the game with Battles having three singles in four at-bats and Willis going two-for-four on the night. Horne, Chaffin, Schirmer and
Tristan Schuerman added singles as well.
Colin Hennessey (L, 1-4) made the start and threw two innings with four runs allowed (three earned).
Jeremy Ramirez gave up two unearned runs in the four innings of work he had, striking out two.
Joey Helms finished the game with two scoreless innings while also striking out three batters.
The Panthers will face the Cedarville Yellow Jackets in an elimination game on Thursday (May 7). The contest will begin at 2:45 PM on Legacy Field. A win will advance the Panthers to the 7:15 PM game against the loser of the Ashland/Kentucky Wesleyan game later Thursday.
