LYNCHBURG, Virginia -- Ferrum College dropped a pair of games to #5 University of Lynchburg in the opening round series of the 2025 ODAC Baseball Tournament. The #8 seeded Panthers lost a 7-6 heartbreaker to top seed Lynchburg in game one before losing 18-4 in the nightcap at James C. Fox Field.

RECORDS
Lynchburg (35-6)
Ferrum (20-22)

GAME 1
Carlos Castillo's RBI groundout in the top of the first inning pushed a run across the plate for the early 1-0 lead for Ferrum. Bryce Demory homed in the bottom the second to tie the game. Seth Shannon had an RBI single to right field in the fourth inning to make it a 2-1 lead, then Shawn Baxter sent a bomb over the right field fence in the sixth and JJ Tyree had a sac fly to center field in the seventh to make it a 4-1 game. Lynchburg mounted a rally, getting three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game at 4-4. Gregory Mello's RBI single to left field in the top of the 10th inning gave Ferrum a pair of runs and a 6-4 lead.

The Hornets responded with two in the bottom of the frame to tie it up at 6-6. Lynchburg's Connor Moore then had a home run to right field in the bottom of the 11th inning for the walkoff win. Baxter went 4-5 with a triple, a home run, three runs and an RBI. Tyler Mason (1-1) was saddled with the loss after pitching two thirds of an inning. Melo went 3-5 with a pair of RBI.

GAME 2
The Hornets got on the scoreboard first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning to grab an early 2-0 lead, then added two runs in the second and two in the third for a 6-0 lead. Shannon and Eli Elliott each had an RBI single in the fourth to get the lead down to 6-2, but Lynchburg scored four more runs in the bottom of the fourth, including a two-run homer to left field by Demory. Melo had a solo homer to left and JJ Mulhern followed with an RBI single to right-center in the top of the sixth inning to get the lead down to 10-4. The Hornets then exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the game out of reach, then tacked on a run in the seventh for the final score. Shannon and Tyler Mason had a pair of base hits each, and starter Jai Penn (3-4) took the loss after pitching three and a third innings.

SEASON FINALE
Coach Eric Owens's team closed out the season with today's losses. The Panthers graduate 11 players, while 36 players are eligible to return for the 2026 season. Ferrum will leave the NCAA Division III ranks and the ODAC this summer, reclassifying as an NCAA Division II institution and competing as a member of Conference Carolinas in all sports starting in Fall 2025.