March 10, 2013
NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion University baseball team was edged in a pitching duel by Northeastern on Sunday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex in the series finale, 2-1.
Both starting pitchers controlled most of Sunday’s game as Northeastern’s Kevin Ferguson (3-1) hurled 7.2 innings allowing one run on five hits with three walks and a pair of strikeouts. Old Dominion’ Ryan Yarbrough (1-1) hurled 6.2 innings, allowing five hits, two runs (one earned) with a walk and four punchouts.
The Huskies got on the board in the fifth when Connor Lyons reached on an error and moved to third on a base hit by John Puttress. Pete Castoldi then brought in Lyons on an infield hit to third base for the game’s first run. Northeastern would load the bases but Yarbrough struck out Michael Foster to end the threat.
Northeastern (8-6, 1-2) would threaten again in the top of the seventh as RJ Roman reached on an infield hit and advanced to second on a sac bunt. After a fly out, Tyler Urps walked and Josh Eldridge single to center to put two aboard for Ben Verlander, who roped a single into left field off new NU pitcher Dylan Maki on a full count with two outs to cut the lead to 2-1. Jordan Negrini was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, but pinch hitter Ben Slaton’s hard hit ball was snagged by Huskies’ shortstop Jason Vosler on a diving play to end the threat.
Maki was able to close out the ninth for his second save of the year while Brandon Smith tossed the final 1.1 innings of the game for Old Dominion, retiring all four batters he faced.
Eldridge and Verlander each went 2-for-4 in the game ODU. Verlander finished the week, going 7-for-11 with nine RBI and four home runs, including a grand slam.
Old Dominion begins a five-game road swing starting Tuesday when they travel to East Carolina at 5 p.m.
Follow ODU Baseball on Twitter @ODUBaseball and find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ODUBaseball.