April 12, 2012
NORFOLK, VA--The ODU Monarchs host defending CAA champion James Madison in a three-game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m. which will be Flood "the Bud" Night. Admission will be 1.00 with free T-shirts to the first 200 fans as well as inning give-a-ways which include Washington National tickets, gas and food gift cards and ODU memorabilia.
The Dukes are led in hitting by Cole McInturff at .348 and a .409 slugging percentage, while Casey GossIs hitting .331 with 25 runs scored and Conner Brown is at .313 with a team best three homers and 29 RBI.
JMU is scheduled to throw Patrick Toohers (1-1/4.04 ERA) on Friday, Michael Howerton (0-2/5.13 ERA)On Saturday and Evan Scott (1-3 (9.55 ERA) on Sunday. All three are righthanders.
The series, ODU leads, 54-48-1. Last year, the Monarchs defeated JMU in Harrisonburg twice in theThree-game series, but the Dukes defeated ODU in the CAA title game.
ODU has won two of its last three games which include a five-hit shutout last Saturday at Towson byBen Tomchick and a 3-2 victory Wednesday night against 24th ranked East Carolina.
Austin McGowan leads ODU with a .319 batting average, followed by senior catcher Josh TutwilerAt .311 with three homers, a team best 10 doubles and 18 RBI. Senior shortstop Josh Wright is hitting .284 with six homers and 20 RBI along with a team best 33 runs scored. In ODU's last 10 games, Wright is hitting .363 with three homers and seven RBI as well as 13 runs scored. He has an .848 slugging percentage during that stretch.
Fellow senior Joey Burney at .265 with four homers and 17 RBI.
ODU will throw Phil McCarthy (0-4/7.04 ERA) on Friday, Ben Tomchick, the CAA Pitcher of the Week (2-3/4.67 ERA) on Saturday. Sunday's starter is still to be determinded.
Those who can't make it out to the game Friday night can listed live on Star1310 WGH AM Radio with Doug Ripley providing the play-by-play. Doug will also broadcast the other two contests on Monarch Media.
ODU will play crosstown rival Norfolk State next Tuesday at Harbor Park with a 6:15 start.