Feb. 21, 2010
NORFOLK, VA--The Old Dominion University Monarchs (3-0)scored nine runs in the final three innings for an 11-5 victory over the Rams of Fordham and a sweep of the three-game series.
Firstbaseman Chris Baker (Chesapeake, Va.) led ODU with three RBI, followed by two RBI each for Nathan Hartman (Orlando, FL.) , Joe Velleggia (Monkton, MD.) and Josh Wright (Bridgewater, VA).
Sophomore righthander Brandon Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) came on in relief and pitched five scoreless innings to pick up his first win of the season. Smith scattered three hits and fanned three batters.
Fordham led 5-2 after five innings of play. Chris Baker singled home Hartman in the sixth inning to make it 5-3. In the seventh, ODu scored four runs on a two-run double by Hartman which scored Donnie Corsner (Virginia Beach, VA.) and Kenny Stoneback (Colonial Heights, VA.).
Catcher Joe Velleggia then followed with a two-run homer to break the five-all tie and put ODU ahead to stay at 7-5. It was Velleggia's second homer of the season.
ODU again scored four runs in the eighth thanks to a hit by pitch, five walks and an error with two outs.
Sophomore Josh Wright hit a solo homer for ODU in the third inning and Chris Baker doubled home Velleggia in the fourth.
Fordham was led by Nick Martinez with three hits and Chris Walker with two hits and three runs batted in.
ODU travels to East Carolina on Tuesday at 4 p.m. then return home for a four-game weekend series against Bucknell beginning on Friday.
Fordham 120 020 000 -5-8-1ODU 001 101 44x -11-7-0
Fordham Battery: Pendergast, Munday(6), Stone(7),m DeMartino(8) and WalkerODU Battery: C.J. Huyett, Brandon Smith (5) and Joe Velleggia
WP:Smith (1-0) LP: Munday(0-1)HR: ODU-Josh Wright (1), Joe Velleggia(2)