March 5, 2011
NORFOLK, Va. -- The Old Dominion Baseball Monarchs spilt Saturday's doubleheader with the Fairfield Stags. Dropping the first game 4-3, the Monarchs took the nightcap, 9-1, behind Phil McCarthy's (Chesapeake, Va.) complete game.
The Monarchs head into tomorrow's final match up with the Stags with a 7-5 overall mark, while Fairfield comes into Sunday's contest with a 3-4 record.
In game one, the Monarchs and Stags remained tied through four innings of play, before Fairfield took and held a one run lead in the top of the fifth en-route to its 4-3 win.
Designated Hitter Carmine DeVito's RBI single to center gave Fairfield the 1-0 advantage in the top of the second, but at their at-bat, the Monarchs tied the game at 1-1. Rightfielder Nathan Hartman's double to left field, sent Brent Frazier around the bases to tie the game.
The Stags took a 2-1 edge in the fourth. With two outs, third baseman Mark Skrapits scored on an error on a tough hit to second base, but like before, the Monarchs responded in their turn at the plate. First baseman Chris Baker opened the Monarchs' at-bat with a homer to right field, his fourth of the year.
Fairfield took the lead for good in the top of fifth. Lead-off hitter Ryan Furbeck opened the inning on a single to left and touched home following a double to right field by second baseman Tucker Nathans giving the Stags the 3-1 lead.
Catcher Chris Horning drove what would prove to be the game winning run in the top of the sixth for the Stags. With two outs, Horing hit the ball to left scoring DeVito from second base to give the Stags a 4-2 edge.
Old Dominion cut the Stag lead to one in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and two on, shortstop Joey Burney, but it would be the final scoring of the game for either team.
Ben Tomchick earned the loss for the Monarchs dropping to 2-1 on the year. He hurled six innings with four strikeouts, eight hits, and just one earned run.
Scott Gussaroff recorded the win for the stags, while Mark Bordonaro picked up the save. Gussaroff struck out six Monarchs in 5.2 innings of work allowing seven hits and three runs. Bordonaro allowed two hits and struck out four in his first save of the season.
In game two, the Monarchs struck early taking a 1-0 lead in the first. Nathan Hartman triple to right field setting up Chris Baker to send him home on the next at bat with a double to center field.
The Stags tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the second, but it would be the only run the Monarchs would give up the entire game. Rightfielder Tyler Wosleger got on base with a bunt and went on to steal second, setting up Anthony Hajjar to single to left field to send his teammate home.
Old Dominion added two runs in the bottom of the second, three more runs in the third inning, and added another pair to close out the fourth.
The Monarch scoring barrage began in the second with a Joey Burney two RBI double to left field and then later scoring on a wild pitch by Stag pitcher Mike Xarras.
Heading into the inning with a 3-1 edge, catcher Edgar Hernandez began the Monarchs' three run third inning by doubling to left field. Two batters later, Chris Baker sent Hernandez home on a double to right. Burney added in his third RBI of the game singling to right field, scoring Baker giving Old Dominion a 6-1 lead.
After being held scoreless in the fifth, Hernandez added the Moanrchs' ninth and final run in the sixth on a lead off solo shot to left. It was Hernandez's first homer of the 2011 season.
Phil McCarthy recorded the win for the Monarchs pitching all seven innings, allowing one earned run on six hits and striking out six Stag batters. McCarthy improved his record to 1-1.
Scot Warwick picked up the loss for Fairfield. He gave up five hits, six runs, and struck out three in the loss. Warwick drops to 1-1 on the year.
The Monarchs close out the weekend series with Fairfield tomorrow at Bud Metheny Stadium. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.