Feb. 25, 2006
NORFOLK, VA-- Junior catcher Patrick Nichols (Chesapeake, VA) knocked a pair of three-run home runs to pace the Old Dominion Monarchs to a 11-9 win over Rutgers Saturday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. The Monarchs are now 9-2 with the win, while the Scarlet Knights were handed their first loss of the year and now sit at 3-1. Junior righthander Jason Godin (Stafford, VA) pitched seven innings for the mound victory, and is now 3-0 on the season.
The two teams combined for six home runs on the afternoon, and Rutgers' Frank Meade started off the power hitting display by belting a three-run homer in the second inning to give Rutgers a 3-0 lead.
ODU would respond in the bottom half of the inning as junior Bryan Cipolla (Plainview, NY) slammed a solo shot to right field to start the inning. Nichols would follow by hitting the first of his three-run shots, bringing in baserunners Dana Arrowood (Woodbridge, VA) and Justin Gregula (Washington, PA). The Monarchs would get their fifth run of the inning as sophomore Chris Keenan (Chesapeake, VA) doubled in Jimmy Miles (Orlando, FL).
In the 6th inning, Rutgers took a 6-5 advantage as Ryan Hill hit his third home run in four games, this one a two-run shot. Senior Jesse Schoendienst (Belcamp, MD) would answer in the bottom of the sixth as he hit a solo home run to tie the score at 6-6.
Old Dominion would break the game open in the seventh inning, as Arrowood hit an RBI single and Gregula sacrifice flied to right field scoring Mike Zahm (Omaha, NE). Nichols would follow with another three-run homer to deep centerfield to put the Monarchs up 11-6.
Nichols would help ensure the victory in the last inning, as he picked off a Rutgers baserunner at second base right after the Scarlet Knights had two on with no outs.Along with his home run, Schoendienst collected three hits on the day. Keenan, Cipolla, and Arrowood added two. Nichols finished the game with six RBI, a career-high. Godin fanned seven, following his 17 strikeout performance last weekend against Navy.
ODU and Rutgers play Game 3 of their series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
RUT 031 002 030 9-8-1ODU 050 001 50x 11-14-2WP: Godin(3-0) LP: Baione (0-1)