Staab Comes Up Clutch, Panthers Earn Sweep and Series Win at Malone

CANTON, Ohio – Thomas Staab (Bellville, Ohio) delivered a pair of go-ahead hits and Myles Martinez (Columbus, Ohio) pitched a gem in relief as Ohio Dominican baseball swept Saturday’s doublehedaer at Malone, 6-2 and 6-3. 

Staab recorded a go-ahead triple in extra innings in Game One, before giving the Panthers the lead for good with a two-RBI single in Game Two. With Saturday’s results, ODU takes 3-of-4 against Malone for the weekend, improving to 20-26 overall, 11-17 in the Great Midwest. Malone falls to 17-29 (8-20 G-MAC). 

With a handful of conference games still to be played Sunday, the Panthers, winners of three straight and seven of their last 10 overall, are now within 2.5 games of Findlay for sixth place in the G-MAC standings. Different in 2022, only six schools qualify for the G-MAC Tournament. 

GAME ONE

For the second time in three games to start the series, ODU and Malone needed extra innings from the scheduled contest to determine a winner. The Panthers scored four runs in the top of the eighth to edge the Pioneers, 6-2. 

Jack Mathey (Copley, Ohio) went 3-for-3 and drove in the first Panther run of the game in the top of the fourth with a double down the right field line. Mathey later scored in the frame off a Michael McFadden (Brunswick, Ohio) base hit, which gave ODU a 2-1 advantage. 

Alex Brill (Amherst, Ohio) started on the mound, and after conceding a first inning run, retired 11 consecutive batters. Brill went 4.1 innings, allowing just one run on four hits, with three strikeouts. 

Lane Marshall (Wooster, Ohio) relieved Brill in the fifth inning with one out and the bases loaded. The left-hander struck out the first batter he faced and forced an infield popup to keep the Panthers in front. The Pioneers did score once on a two-out single in the sixth, which tied the game at 2-all. 

After a scoreless seventh inning, Mathey led off the extra frame with a base hit. Brill and Brennen Hunt (Ashland, Ohio) also singled to load the bases with one out. Staab then roped a triple to the right center gap, clearing the bases and providing three runs for the Black & Gold. Spencer Tammaro (New Albany, Ohio) followed with a sac fly to give ODU a 6-2 lead heading into the bottom half of the inning.

In a non-save situation, Derek Bolander (Oregon, Ohio) conceded a leadoff double, but struck out the next two batters he faced. A fly out to center followed to secure the Panther win. 

Bolander made three appearances in the week, two for saves, going a combined 3.0 innings, allowing three hits with three strikeouts, and no runs conceded.

GAME TWO

With the first game going past the scheduled seven innings, the series finale was shortened to only seven innings. ODU and Malone combined for only 11 hits in the game, with the Pioneers enjoying a slim 6-5 edge. Marshall collected two hits and scored twice. 

ODU struck first in the second inning, as Marshall’s double drove in a run. The sophomore then scored on a sac bunt from David Silva (Tontogany, Ohio) to place the Panthers in front, 2-0. Malone though, captured a 3-2 lead after three complete, scoring all three of its runs for the game off three hits in the third inning. 

Martinez entered in relief on the mound for ODU and allowed only two hits over four innings. The left-hander struck out four batters as well. 

McFadden drew a leadoff walk in the top of the fourth and later scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 3-all. With two out and two on in the inning, Staab delivered again, this time with a two-run single to place the Panthers in the lead, 5-3. ODU scored an additional run in the fifth to push its advantage to three runs. 

UP NEXT

Ohio Dominican will welcome Findlay for a four-game series in Panther Valley on Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7. The Panthers are scheduled to honor their senior class during Friday’s doubleheader, and celebrate the 25th anniversary of its first NAIA World Series team on Saturday.

Contact: Tyler Jester

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