March 2, 2013
NORFOLK, Va. - Austin McGowan had three hits and Josh Eldridge blasted his first home run of the year to lead Old Dominion University baseball to a 12-4 victory over Temple Saturday afternoon.
ODU (5-3) got off to a quick start as Tyler Urps doubled to lead off the game and moved to third on an infield single from McGowan. Eldridge followed with his first homer of the season to give ODU a 3-0 lead.
Temple came back with two runs in the third on RBI hits from Nick Lustrino and Derek Peterson.
The Monarchs responded with four runs in the fifth to blow the game open. Jordan Negrini led off the inning with a double and after two consecutive outs, Urps was hit by a pitch and McGowan followed with an RBI single. Eldidge came through with a ringing double to drive in URps and Ben Slaton hit an RBI single to bring in Eldridge and McGowan. Joey Burney doubled to right field to score pinch-runner Dylan Hill to give ODU an 8-2 lead.
ODU opened the flood gates again in the seventh with four more runs. A pair of Temple errors helped the Monarchs' cause and McGowan ripped another RBI single.
Eldridge had a pair of hits and four RBI while Burney and Slaton had two hits apiece. Peterson and Lustrino had two hits each for Temple.
Erick Baker tossed three hitless innings for his second win of the year.
ODU looks for the series sweep Sunday as the two teams are back in action at 1 p.m.