March 28, 2012
NORFOLK, VA-- Joey Burney and Josh Eldridge each knocked in two runs for the Monarchs,but crosstown rival Norfolk State rallied to defeat ODU, 7-5 behind the hitting ofChris Warren and Justin Lee who both drove in two runs. NSU is 9-12 and ODU is 10-15.
The Monarchs took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a groundout RBI by Josh Eldridge to plate Josh Wright from third afterhe led-off with a triple. Joey Burney then doubled down the rightfield line to score Shawn Sizemore.
NSU tied the game in the fifth on an RBI single by Rafael Colon which brought home Justin Lee. NSU took a 3-2lead in the sixth when Lee walked with the bases loaded to bring home James Essex.
ODU came back to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth on a RBI double by Joey Burney to bring home Josh Tutwiler,but the Spartans took the lead for good in the seventh with an RBI single by Ross Cardwell to bring home Cameron Day.The Spartans added a run in the eighth and two more in the ninth for a 7-3 lead.
ODU mounted a rally in the bottom of the ninth scoring on an RBI double by Josh Eldridge which plated Wright and an RBI single by Shawn Sizemore, to bring home Eldridge.
Reliever Chris Horne picked up the win and Richie Salter earned his second save of the season for the Spartans.ODU pitchers fanned 14 batters, but also walked eight. Monarch freshman starter Greg Tomchick fanned eight batters in4.1 innings allowing just two runs and only one walk.
NSU had 11 hits on the night and ODU 10. Chris Warren had three doubles for the Spartans while Joey Burney had two doubles forODU. Josh Wright, Chris Baker and Burney each had two hits on the evening.
ODU returns to the CAA wars this weekend with a three-game series at league leader UNCW beginning Friday night at 6:30.Star1310 WGH radio will carry the contest with Ted Alexander providing the play by play.
NSU 010 011 112=7-11-0ODU 200 001 002= 5-10-2
NSU Battery: Bhatti, Horney(5), Salter(8) and WarrenODU Battery: G.Tomchick, B.Smith(5), Griffey(6),Verlander(6),Ali (7), Bratton(9) and Perez
WP: Horne(2-2) LP: Verlander(0-1) Save: Salter(2)