May 16, 2012
NORFOLK, VA-- The ODU Baseball Monarchs host the Panthers of Georgia State in thefinal CAA season series for both teams beginning Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. Friday's game is also at 6 p.m. and Saturday's senior daygame is at 1 p.m.
The Panthers are led by Brandon Williams at .276 with a team best eight homers and39 RBI. He also has eight stolen bases. Jonathan Kolowich is hitting .266 with 34RBI and Joey Wood has 33 RBI while Caden Bailey is hitting .301.
On the mound, Georgia State plans to start Justin Malone (1-2/4.76) on Thursday,Ben Marshall (5-6/3.40) on Friday and Tyler Claburn (4-3/7.60) on Saturday.Marshall ranks eighth in the CAA in ERA, while Malone is ninth in strikeouts with 62. Marshall also leads the league in shutouts with two.
The ODU Monarchs are led by senior shortstop Josh Wright at .300 with 18 stolen bases, 47 runs scored and a .505 slugging percentage. Senior catcher Josh Tutwileris hitting .296 with seven homers and 29 RBI while fellow senior outfieler ChrisBaker seven homers and a team best 39 RBI. Freshman outfielder Josh Eldridge ishitting .292 with a team best four triples along with 26 RBI and a .410 sluggingpercentage.
ODU plans to start sophomore Dean Ali (2-4/2.44) on Thursday night, junior BrandonSmith (8-1/4.02) on Friday night and senior Ben Tomchick (3-5/4.69) on Saturdayafternoon. Brandon Smith is tied for the CAA lead in wins with Michael Trionfo of Towson and Tyler McSwain of UNCW. Ben Tomchick ranks fifth in the CAA in strikeoutswith 71.
Tutwiler and Baker rank sixth in the CAA in homers, while Eldridge is tied for fourth in triples. Josh Wright ranks sixth in the CAA in steals, ninth in doubles, and third in runs scored.
ODU will honor its eight seniors; Josh Wright (SS), Josh Tutwiler (catcher), Chris Baker (RF/1b), Brandon Shelton (2b), Brent Frazier (3b), Ben Tomchick (RHP), CJ Huyett (RHP) and Phil McCarthy (RHP)on Saturday during a pre-game ceremony.
CAA StandingsUNCW 22-5 33-19Hofstra 18-9 31-19Delaware 16-11 26-23George Mason 15-12 32-20VCU 15-15 30-22Towson 12-15 23-29Georgia St. 12-15 22-30W&M 11-16 30-23Northeastern 11-16 21-27JMU 10-17 16-32-2ODU 8-19 18-32