March 19, 2013
NORFOLK, VA-- The ODU Baseball Monarchs look to get back on the winning track whenthey host the Trojans of Virginia State Wednesday night at 6 p.m. in the Bud MethenyBaseball Complex. If you can't make the game listen to it live on Star94.1 with ODU Director of Broadcasting Ted Alexander providing the play-by-play.
The Monarchs, 9-9 currently have five players in the top ten among CAA leaders.Junior outfielder Ben Verlander leads the team with a .404 batting average isis tied for the CAA lead with six homers with Tucker Tobin of George Mason. Verlander also leads the CAA with an .872 slugging percentage. Sophomore outfielder Josh Eldridge is tied for ninth in the CAA in RBI's with 19.
On the mound senior righthander Brandon Smith is tied with Mitchell Aker of William & Mary for the most saves with four, while junior righthander Dean Ali is second inthe league with opponents batting only .202 against him, followed by Andy Robertsat .257 with a number 10 CAA ranking. Junior lefthander Ryan Yarbrough leads the CAA in games started with six. Ali also ranks second in the CAA with a 9.35 strikeout per nine inning average. He has 27 strikeouts in 26 innings of work.
ODU is expected to start freshman righthander Tommy Alexander.
ABOUT VSU: The Trojans are coached by Merrill Morgan who is in his 10th season atVSU. Outfielder/pitcher Joshua Markins leads the team in hitting at .500, homerswith three, RBI with 24 and is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA on the mound. Nick Christopheris hitting .423, while infielder Percy Evans is hitting .362 with 24 RBI. ColtonGunn has a 3-2 record with a 3.73 ERA and two complete games. VSU played at MaryWashington Tuesday night. THE SERIES: ODU leads the series, 1-0. Trojans head coachMorgan is the father of ODU's Assistant Compliance Director M.L. Morgan.
The Monarchs Towson in a three-game CAA series beginning Friday night at 6 p.m.