SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The first Great Midwest Athletic Conference program to reach the final 16 of the NCAA Baseball Championship bracket, Ohio Dominican, saw its storied playoff run come a close on Monday afternoon against Southern Indiana.
The fourth-seeded Panthers (36-17 overall) won four consecutive games after falling in the Midwest Region opener of the double-elimination bracket against Quincy.
ODU continued to stave off elimination and win among teams with one loss, taking down No. 8 seed and Great Midwest tourney champ Hillsdale, No. 6 Ashland, Quincy and top seed/region host Illinois Springfield, in order.
It boiled down to one championship series against No. 7 Southern Indiana, a two-time national champion, for a trip to Cary, N.C., as one of the eight remaining regional champs.
Even though the Screaming Eagles of USI prevailed 9-7 with the pitching running thin for both sides, it was an incredible ride for Ohio Dominican in the Panthers’ bid to force the if-necessary game.
ODU scored 24 combined runs to eliminate UIS and Quincy on Sunday. The Panthers also had double-digit run production against Ashland, ending the Eagles’ run with a 13-7 win. Ohio Dominican edged Hillsdale in a one-run final, 4-3.
ODU was the Great Midwest North Division champion, but fell in both games at the conference tournament against Walsh and Trevecca. The Panthers were still sitting comfortably during the NCAA Selection Show one of two teams from the Great Midwest to make the regional.
Ohio Domincan edged out Hillsdale in an elimination game as Joe Filosa tossed 6.2 scoreless innings in a duel against Chargers’ righty Andrew Verbrugge. Hard-throwing closer Brad Wilson recorded the final seven outs for a tough save as Noah Bland keyed the offense with two hits, including a double.
Max Banke went yard for Ohio Dominican as the Panthers pounded out 18 hits against Ashland to back a winning start from Matt Kittelberger and three perfect innings of relief from Dustin Cowart. First team all-conference catcher Colin Kaucher was a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs and Joey Machuga enjoyed a three-hit game with a double.
Kaucher continued his hot streak against Quincy as Ohio Dominican avenged an early-round defeat. He was a triple shy of the cycle with his second straight 4-for-4 effort at the dish. He hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first and drove in two with a double in the eighth inning.
Wilson made the spot start, his first of the season, to keep ODU’s season alive by going 5.1 for the winning decision.
It was Great Midwest Player of the Year/D2CCA Midwest Region Player of the Year Justin Childers’ time to shine against Illinois Springfield as he finished a triple cycle short of the cycle like Kaucher. His two-run double gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead and he hit a solo shot in the seventh inning.
After Hillsdale went 4-1 in the conference tournament as the No. 3 seed from the North, the Chargers had a tough opening-round draw against Illinois Springfield before seeing their successful spring end against divisional foe ODU.
Hillsdale was the Great Midwest automatic qualifier and had a final record in the 2018 campaign of 26-30.