March 26, 2006
NORFOLK, VA--Junior Hunter Hall (Virginia Beach, VA/First Colonial) pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief to pick up his fifth victory of the year, as the Old Dominion Monarchs (25-3/9-0 CAA) swept the Tribe of William & Mary (8-16/3-9 CAA) 8-6 on Sunday at the Bud Metheny Complex. Their 25-3 record is tied with the 1994 edition for the best start to a season since the Monarchs moved up to Division I play in 1977. Also, the 9-0 conference record is ODU's best showing since becoming members of the CAA.
ODU jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning despite getting only one hit. Junior Mike Zahm (Omaha, NE) reached base off a fielders choice, and junior Bryan Cipolla (Plainview, NY) reached on an error by the Tribe's second baseman, with Zahm scoring on the play. Senior Dana Arrowood (Woodbridge, VA) doubled to right center, plating Cipolla. Senior Patrick Nichols (Chesapeake, VA/Greenbriar Christian) was then hit by a pitch while third baseman Justin Gregula (Washington, PA) reached on another Tribe error that scored Arrowood. Nichols would then score on a Tribe wild pitch to end the scoring after the first.
The Monarchs would score two more runs in the fourth to bring the score to 6-1 as Jesse Schoendienst (Belcamp, MD) plated senior Keith Hahn (Valley Stream, NY) with a double, and Cipolla knocked in sophomore Chris Keenan (Chesapeake, VA/Great Bridge) with an RBI single.
William & Mary would storm back the following inning, scoring four runs to make it a one run ball game. Greg Maliniak's RBI single knocked in Brent McWhorter, who opened the frame with a triple. Paul Juliano also contributed two RBI in the inning after lacing a single to right field that scored Maliniak and Greg Sexton.
That rally would fall short however, as the Monarchs scored a run in both the 7th and 8th innings. Hahn belted his first triple of the season to score Gregula in the 7th, while Gregula hit Zahm in off a groundout to shortstop in the 8th.
For the Monarchs, Hahn led the way with two hits on the day while Zahm scored two runs. Sexton paced the Tribe with three hits and two runs scored on the afternoon.
Hall is now 5-0 on the season, tying teammate Jason Godin for best record in the conference, after striking out two batters in 2.1 innings of relief for starter Dan Hudson (Virginia Beach, VA/Princess Anne). Hudson gave up five runs and struck out four in 4.2 innings of duty. Junior Needham Jones (Portsmouth, VA/Wilson) worked a scoreless, hitless ninth inning to pick up his first save of the year.
ODU will next host ACC member Maryland on Wednesday night at the Bud Metheny Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
W&M 010 040 010- 6 11 2ODU 400 200 11X- 8 9 0
WP- Hunter Hall (5-0) LP- Mike LaFleur (1-4) S- Needham Jones