March 24, 2012
NORFOLK, VA-- Sophomore firstbaseman Joey Burney (Gloucester, VA.) slammed two of ODU's four homers to lead the Monarchs (9-13/2-3) to a 13-5 CAA victory over Hostra (9-11/5-3) Saturday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. The game had a 1:19 minute rain delay in the fourth inning.
ODU exploded for six runs in the second inning off a lead-off homer by seniorrighthfielder Joey Burney, last year's Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American then followed with a two-run shot with Josh Tutwiler (Bridgewater, VA.) aboard for a 3-0 ODU lead. After Austin McGowan (Midlothian, VA.) scored on a Hofstra throwing error, Josh Wright (Bridgewater, VA.) doubled home both Brandon Shelton (Chesapeake, VA.) and Josh Eldridge (Lorton, VA.) for the 6-0 lead.
Burney came right back in the third inning with a solo homer to lead off the inning and later Brandon Shelton was hit with the bases loaded to bring home McGowan fora 8-0 lead.
After the rain delay, senior catcher Josh Tutwiler led off the fourth inning with asolo homer. Freshman leftfielder Josh Eldridge knocked in three runs with a basesloaded triple in the fifth inning.
Baker and Austin McGowan led ODU with four hits on the day, while Drew Coker, Joshwright and Joey Burney each had two hits. Burney and McGowan scored three times, while Burney and Eldridge each knocked in three runs.
ODU starter Ben Tomchick (Virginia Beach, VA.) pitched four innings before the rain, fanning six and allowing justone run. Junior Brandon Smith (Chesapeake, VA.) got the win in relief as he pitched four innings and striking out four to run his record to 4-0 on the season, and sophomore Ben Verlander (Maidens, VA.) pitched a scoreless ninth.
Hofstra was led by Chris Nardo who belted a two-run homer in the fifth inning.Danny Poma, Taylor Stuart and Jared Hammer each knocked in runs for the Pride.
Game three of the CAA series is Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. Fans who bring in canned goods for the Salvation Army's "Strike Out Hunger"Weekend will be admitted free to the game. Sunday's contest is also National Athletic Trainers Association Day. All Athletic trainers with their NATA card willalso be admitted free.
HOF 000 120 200=5-10=1ODU 062 140 00x=13-17-1
HOF Battery: Tiedemann, Mulligan(2),Lettini(4), Krause(6) and Flynn,Beers(5)ODU Battery: B.Tomchick, B.Smith(5), Verlander (9) and Tutwiler
WP: B.Smith (4-0) LP: Tiedemann (2-3)HR: ODU- Baker, Tutwiler, Burney (2)Hofstra- Nardo