The Grand Valley State baseball team dropped a season-opening twinbill Sunday afternoon to Ohio Dominican in Mason, Ohio at Prasco Park. The Panthers claimed an 11-7 decision in game one, followed by a 6-1 win in game two. The Lakers will return to action Friday at the Dunn Hospitality Classic in Evansville, Indiana versus Missouri S&T at 12 noon. 

The Lakers missed an opportunity to take early control in game one when they loaded the bases in the opening frame with two hits and a walk. However a strikeout and an inning ending double play thwarted the scoring chance. GVSU loaded the bases again in the second inning and was able to take an early 1-0 lead.  However, Ohio Dominican answered with 10 runs in the second inning on three hit batters and six hits. Starter Blake Dahlstom, who was tagged with the loss, yielded six runs on two hits in 1.1 innings. 

GVSU answered with six runs of their own in the top of the third inning to pull within three (10-7). ODU added a run in the bottom of the fifth for the final margin of 11-7. The Lakers, who outhit Ohio Dominican 11-10, left 14 base runners stranded on base compared to just five for the Panthers. Tate Brawley yielded five runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings of work with four strikeouts, while Alex Licata gave up one hit in one inning of action on the hill. 

RF Jacob Gleason, 1B Ryan Blake-Jones, 2B Josh Smith and center fielder Drake Ellens each collected two hits for the Lakers, with Smith and left fielder Aaron Donald each recording an RBI. 

Ohio Dominican scored a single run in the bottom of the second and two more in the bottom of the third to take a 3-0 lead. The big blow was a bases loaded double in the bottom of the fourth to plate three and up the lead to 6-0. GVSU scored its lone run in the top of the sixth. 

GVSU managed just three hits in the second game, one each from freshmen 3B Ricky Clark, C Caleb Anspaugh and CF Nolan Anspaugh. Senior DH Connor Glick also recorded a hit for the Laker offense, while Nate Chase drove in the only run. 

LHP Travis Keys took the loss, giving up three runs on five hits in 2.1 innings of work, while Jake Mason yielded three runs on three hits in 1.2 innings. Brendan Nearing and Kyle Lawson each pitched a scoreless inning. ODU held a 9-4 advantage in hits in game two.