INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Indianapolis baseball team survived an 11 inning endurance battle with the Ohio Dominican Panthers, with
Brandon DeWitt delivering the final blow of the contest, walking off the Panthers in 24-23 fashion.
The win moves the Hounds to 18-12 on the season, marking only the second highest run total of the season, with the Hounds scoring 32 in the second game of the season against Notre Dame College. The win, however, set a new season best for hits in a game, slapping 24 knocks in the 11-inning affair.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hounds looked to be in control of the contest early, spotting two runs in the first via a
Zack Williams single and then a
Nick Lukac sacrifice fly. Despite a leadoff dinger by the opposition in the top of the frame, the Hounds answered back with a seven spot second. The highlight of the run bonanza came via a massive two-run bomb by
Caleb Vaughn, his fourth of the year.
Two more runs in the third, compliments of
Drew Donaldson and Vaughn, were sandwiched by yet another seven-run inning in the fourth, despite a three-spot by the Panthers in the top of the fourth. The fourth inning run explosion featured
Brady Ware and
Dom Brown both smacking doubles while Vaughn, Williams and
Easton Good all recorded RBI singles.
Down 18-4 going into the top of the fifth, the Panthers strung together hit after hit to amass 12 runs in the inning to make it 18-16, the cap off coming via a deep two run homer. From that point on it was back and forth with the Panthers finally tying and eventually taking the lead in the top of the ninth. Donaldson, with the biggest spot of the night thus far, crushed a ball up the middle, scoring Good and sending the game to extras.
Extras saw the Panthers once again jump on the Hounds pitchers, launching another bomb and putting up a three-run inning. Even though they had blown an 18-4 lead, the Hounds never quit, responding with a three run inning of their own.
In the 11th it was back and forth with a single through the left side giving the Panthers a 23-22 lead. Needing two runs, the Hounds had
Nick Lukac tie the ballgame with a clutch hit right up to centerfield. And then with bases loaded, DeWitt got the final contact of the game, rifling a ball to the second baseman which he muffed resulting in the final run of the contest and the walk off.
HOUND BYTES
UP NEXT
The Hounds are at home this Friday to start their series with the William Jewell Cardinals. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
