March 3, 2007
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
NORFOLK, VA -- The Old Dominion baseball team outscored Iona (2-6) 29-2 in a sweep of a doubleheader Saturday. In the first game, ODU won 6-0 as Anthony Shawler (Chesapeake, VA) pitched his second straight complete game shutout while fanning 13 batters. In the second, the Monarchs scored 23 runs in a 23-2 victory as the team obliterated a 21-year old school record for doubles in a game with twelve. Mike Zahm (Omaha, NE) tied the school record with four two-baggers in the game.
In game one the story was certainly Shawler (4-0) on the hill. In 27 outs, the sophomore had 13 strikeouts and 12 groundouts. Shawler only allowed a base runner to third base twice and on both occasions he ended the threats with strikeouts. He has given up just six hits in his last 18 innings of work as he became just the third Monarch to ever pitch consecutive shutouts and the first since 1992 (John Smith).
At the plate in the first game, ODU used a four-run fourth inning to distance from the Gaels. Brooks Sinnen (Virginia Beach, VA) hit a 2-RBI double in the inning, Gerard Hall (Washington, DC) hit an RBI single and Chris Keenan hit a sacrifice fly to right field.
Andrew Wernicki led the Iona hitters with a 2-for-3 game against Shawler but the Gaels were unable to connect with runners in scoring position.
In the second game, Ryan Bergh (Reddick, FL) was credited with the win (2-2) after pitching 6 2/3 innings of 2-run, 8-strikeout baseball. In relief Cory Toth (Chincoteague, VA) and Matt Walls (Falls Church, VA) were perfect for the final 2 1/3 innings. The three combined for 13 strikeouts in the game.
The story in the second game was the gap-hitting for the Monarchs. The 21-year old school record of 8 doubles in a game came against Delaware State on March 22, 1986 and fell by the margin of one hitter, Mike Zahm. Zahm had four of the teams record-breaking hits while Tyler Belcher added two. Cameron Scott, a 4th inning replacement for the injured Nick Erdman, hit three in the final four frames for the Monarchs.
The three doubles for Scott made him the best offensive producer for ODU in game two, with four RBI's and three runs scored on his perfect 3-for-3 day. Catcher Joe Velleggia also had four RBI's and three runs scored on three hits. Every Monarch that played offensively scored at least one run except for Erdman, who reached when he was hit by a pitch and then had a sacrifice bunt.
Meanwhile, for the Monarchs top hitter in 2007, Zahm, the four doubles increase his team-leading total to 11, his team-leading season average to .466 and his RBI total to 18. He's also scored 19 runs and stolen five bases this year. Jake McAloose and David Burns aren't far behind, hitting .379 and .356 respectively with a combined 39 RBI's.
Iona's Mike Walraven led the Gaels in game two with two hits in three at-bats. Keith Kenny and Nick Capowski had the two RBI's for Iona in the second inning.
The fourth game of the weekend series is Sunday with first pitch set for 1:00 pm.