March 20, 2010
NORFOLK--The Old Dominion University baseball team hit five home runs but lost a slugfest to Rutgers by the score of 14-11 at the Bud Metheny Complex on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams combined for 10 home runs and 20 extra-base hits, and the Scarlet Knights (7-10) scored six runs in the top of the eighth inning to take the lead for good.
ODU (11-11) got two home runs from catcher Joe Velleggia, as well as a first-inning grand slam from right fielder Nathan Hartman that gave the Monarchs a lead they held until the eighth. Cameron Scott and Chris Buss also hit home runs for the Monarchs, who came up one shy of the school record of six home runs in a game.
Rob Smorol (1-1) pick up the victory for Rutgers. Brandon Smith (2-2) worked the last two for ODU and took the loss.
The Monarchs piled up 17 hits in the game, led by a 4-for-5 night from left fielder Cameron Scott. Scott scored twice and drove in two with a double and home run in the game. Velleggia finished 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI, while Rutgers center fielder Jarred Jimenez also knocked out two in the gmae.
The two teams will meet again at 1 p.m. Sunday in the rubber game of the three-game series.