March 31, 2009
Norfolk, Va. - Junior Chris Boggs allowed just one run in seven innings of work, and Joe Velleggia belted a two-run home run as the Monarchs of Old Dominion defeated visiting Liberty, 2-1, Tuesday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Complex. With the victory the Monarchs (8-15) snapped Liberty's nine-game winning streak, which was the longest in the nation coming into today's contest.
The Flames (19-6) jumped out in front 1-0 on a two-out RBI single by Curran Redal in the top of the third, but that would be their only run of the game.
ODU answered in the bottom half of the fourth when Jake McAloose singled and scored on Velleggia's third home run of the season, a two-run shot to left off of Liberty starter Cody Brown.
Pitching and defense took over for the remainder of the game as both teams went scoreless over the last five innings, with the Flames leaving 11 runners stranded.
Boggs (2-0) scattered six hits and struck out four for the Monarchs to earn his second victory of the year, and Brown (1-1) fanned six ODU batters and walked just one in five innings, but still picked up the loss.
After starting the game at shortstop, ODU's Gerard Hall came in and pitched the final two innings to earn his first save of the season with help from McAloose. With two outs and the tying run on second in the top of the ninth, Liberty's Doug Bream hit a screaming shot down the third base line. McAloose made a diving backhand grab, jumped to his feet and gunned out Bream at first to seal the win for the Monarchs.
ODU returns to the diamond tomorrow when they travel to Chapel Hill to take on the Tarheels of North Carolina. Junior lefthander Cory Toth (1-3) is expected to get the start on the mound for the Monarchs.