March 8, 2008
Norfolk, Va. - Seniors Jimmy Miles and David Burns each drove in two runs and starter Dan Hudson struck out 12 in seven innings of work to lead the Monarchs of Old Dominion University to a 5-3 victory over visiting Delaware in the Colonial Athletic Association opener for both teams. The series will conclude tomorrow with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
The Blue Hens (3-7, 0-1 CAA) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly to right off the bat of Jon Duvall. However, the Monarchs quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning.
A single by Edgar Hernandez and an RBI double to right field by second baseman Chris Keenan knotted the score at one apiece. Miles followed with a two-run single to left, giving the Monarchs a 3-1 lead.
Delaware center fielder Adam Tsakonas led off the third with a solo shot to right-center, his sixth of the season, bringing the Blue Hens to within one at 3-2.
ODU (6-4, 1-0 CAA) pushed the lead back to three in the fifth when with a runner on base, Burns got a hold of an offering from Blue Hen starter Mike McGuire and sent it sailing over the right field fence for his third home run of the season and a 5-2 Monarch lead.
The Blue Hens added a run in the seventh to provide the final 5-3 margin, but that was as close as they would get. Ryan Bergh entered the game in relief of Hudson in the eighth for ODU and picked up the two-inning save, his second of the year.
Hudson (2-1) earned the victory after allowing three runs on four hits and striking out 12 for the Monarchs, while McGuire recorded the loss to fall to 1-1.
Miles finished the day 3-for-5 with two RBI's for ODU.