May 19, 2006
TOWSON, MD-- Senior Dana Arrowood pitched 9.2 innings of relief and hit a solo homer in the top of the 18th to lift Old Dominion (39-14/21-8) to a 9-8 victory over Towson (19-34/7-22) Friday afternoon. It was the longest game (by innings) in the history of both schools. ODU's win coupled with JMU's victory over UNC WIlmington kept both school's tied for first in the CAA.
ODU took a 8-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth, when Towson tied it asAdam Heffron tripled in A.J. Tinnerella, the Heffron scored on Greg Furmanek's single.
In the extra innings, ODU got a single by Arrowood in the tenth, then did not get another hit until Arrowood led off the 18th with his seventh homer of the season.
On the mound Arrowood fanned a career high 12 batters in 9.2 innings with seven hits and two walks. He is now 6-2 on the season. At the plate, the Woodbridge, VA native had three hits, and three RBI. He doubled home two runs in ODU's four-run seventh inning.
Jimmy Miles and Patrick Nichols each had three on the day. ODU hit four lead-off solo homers, Miles led the game off with his fourth, Nichols slammed his 17th in the second, and Tyler Belcher hit his first of the year in the fourth. Tyler Belcher and Jesse Schoendienst each had two hits for ODU.
ODU starter and CAA strikeout leader Jason Godin fanned 11 on the day giving the Monarch staff 23 for the game. Godin now has 141 strikeoutsin 105.2 innings. He is just ten shy of Justin Verlander's ('04) 151 in2004.
Towson pounded out 18 hits, led by Adam Heffron with four in seven atbats, while Greg Furmanek had three and Gary Helmick,Hans Falkenhan, AJ Tinnerellla and Ryan Schrieter each had two.
The previous longest games by innings in ODU'ss baseball history occuredin 1989 against Clemson and VCU.
The third and final game of the season is Saturday at 1 p.m.