May 4, 2011
NORFOLK, VA-- The ODU Monarchs return to action after 11 days off for exams whenthey travel to Newark, DE. to take on the University of Delaware in a three-gameCAA series beginning Friday at 3 p.m.
The Fightin' Blue Hens are 25-19 overall and 15-9 in the CAA, tied for first withJames Madison.
Leftfielder Pat Cameron leads UD with a .358 batting average which includes 41 runs scored and 18 doubles. Firstbaseman Steve Ulaky has 13 homers with a .354 batting average and 44 RBI's. Centerfielder Nick Ferdinand is at .314 with eight homers followed by secondbaseman DJ Long at .310.
On the mound reliever Stephen Ritcher is second in the CAA with eight saves. Corey Crispell and Eric Young lead the team with five wins each. Jeff Murray (0-1) leads the CAA in appearances wtih 25.
Delaware leads the series, 12-10. Last season, ODU defeated the fightin' Blue Henstwice in the three-game series at ODU.
The Monarchs return to action with three six-game winners on the staff. Ben Tomchick (6-4/2.98), Kyle Hald (6-2/3.15) and Phil McCarthy (6-3/3.90). Hald continues to lead the CAA in strikeouts with 82 in 68.2 innings with Towson'sCharlie Cononie just three behind. Reliever Adam Wisniewski leads the CAA insaves with 10 and is fourth in appearances with 21.
Junior shortstop Josh Wright is sixth in the CAA with 10 homers, seventh in totalbases with .99 and second in slugging percentage at .723. He is tied for ninthin the league with 13 stolen bases.
Firstbaseman Chris Baker is hitting .296 with 44 RBI which rank him fifth in theCAA. Baker has six homers and a .506 slugging percentage. Freshman designated hitterJoey Burney is hitting .263 with six homers and 25 RBI.
After this weekend, the Monarchs host Elon on May 10, then a three-game homeCAA series with UNCW which will be the final home stand of the season. ODU finishesthe regular season on the road at East Carolina on May 17, then at Hofstra May 20 and 21.
The CAA tournament is in Wilmington, NC, May 26-28. The top four teams in the league will qualify for the event.
CAA BaseballStandings as of 05/04/11
James Madison 15-9 30-15Delaware 15-9 26-19Georgia State 13-8 33-13Old Dominion 13-8 21-20UNC Wilmington 12-9 24-21William & Mary 13-11 23-23Towson 11-10 21-21 -1VCU 9-12 17-25Northeastern 8-13 13-26Hofstra 9-15 11-27George Mason 5-19 18-28 -1
CAA games this weekendNortheastern at George MasonVCU at TowsonGeorgia State at UNCWNon-conferenceHofstra at Miami (Fla.)