Feb. 13, 2013
NORFOLK, VA--The ODU Baseball Monarchs open the regular season on the diamond Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. against Marshall at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. ODU and the Thundering Herd will be Conference USA rivals next season. This will be the first of a three-game series. Saturday's game will be at 2 p.m. with a 1 p.m. start on Sunday.
Monarch head coach Chris Finwood will be led by pre-season All-CAA returnees Josh Eldridge (So. OF), Brandon Smith (Sr, RHP) and Dean Ali (Jr. RHP).
The Monarchs pitching rotation is scheduled to be as follows: Dean Ali will start on Friday with Ryan Yarbrough (Jr. LHP) on Saturday and Tommy Alexander (Fr. RHP) on Sunday.
Marshall will counter with Chase Boster (Fr. RHP) on Friday, Aaron Blair (JR. RHP)on Saturday and Wayland Moore (Sr. LHP) on Sunday.
This year's squad will feature five seniors, 12 juniors, five sophomores and 13 freshmen.
SERIES: ODU and Marshall have met twice before (1-1). The last time the two teams met was in 2009. Marshall defeated the Monarchs 3-2. ODU won the second game, 9-5. Both games were in the Wake Forest Baseball tournament.
Marshall, coached by Jeff Waggoner is in his seventh season. His top returnees include pitchers Aaron Blair (Jr, RHP) and Josh Kin (JR RHP) along with infielders Nathan Gomez , Sergio Leon and outfielder Isaac Ballou). Ballou led the team with 40 runs scored,while Blair struckout 82 in 83.2 innings of work last year.
NOTE: If you can't make it to the Bud on Friday, listen to ODU Director of Broadcasting Ted Alexander and Doug Ripley live on Monarch Monarch Media on ODUSPORTS.COM.
$50 ticket books are still available. See 28 home games or bring 28 people to one game...Opening Day Celebration / Logo Baseball & Team Photo Giveaway / Phi Mu Alpha Anthem Singers / Post-game Autographs / Bud Metheny award winner Duckie Davis will throw out the first pitch.