May 10, 2013
NORFOLK, VA--Old Dominion University's sophomore catcher Michael Perez and first baseman Josiah Burney slammed homeruns to lead the Monarchs to an 8-3 victory over crosstown rival Norfolk State Friday night at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. ODU (27-22) has now won two straight and six of its last seven games.
The Spartans (17-27) took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI hit from Cameron Day which brought home Justin Lee. In the bottom of the second Perez belted his fourth homer of the season to leftfield to tie the game at 1-1. Perez, then put ODU up 2-1 in the fourth with another solo shot to left.
The Spartans tied the game in the fifth on an RBI hit by Andre Moore which brought home Tyon Ore. In the bottom of the fifth Josh Eldridge doubled home Ben Verlander for a 3-2 ODU lead. In the sixth, Burney led off the inning with a solo shot to right for a 4-2 ODU lead.
The Monarchs then broke the game open with four runs in the seventh on an RBI single by Verlander to score freshman Josh Eldridge scored on a throwing error, Burney's sacrifice fly brought home PJ Higgins for an 8-2 Monarch lead.
NSU's third run came in the top of the ninth on a solo homer by Killian Strenn to make it 8-3.
Michael Perez and Connor Myers each had two hits for ODU on the night, while Burney and Perez each knocked in two runs. Tyon Ore led NSU with two hits.
ODU's Andy Roberts picked up his fourth win of the season, going five innings with no walks and four strikeouts. ODU used five pitchers who issued no walks on the night.
In a pre-game ceremony senior pitcher Ben Verlander was awarded the Ralph Guzzo award by the Chesapeake Athletic Club as the team MVP.
Game two of the crosstown series is Saturday at 1 p.m. at NSU's Marty Miller Stadium.
NSU 100 010 001=3-9-4ODU 010 111 40x=8-9-0
NSU- Horne, Salter (5), Morton(7) and RaumeODU - Roberts, Ali(6), Smith(7), Alexander(9), Gero(9) and Perez
HR: ODU Perez, 2 (5), Burney (4) NSU- Strenn(1)WP: Roberts (4-3) LP:Horne (4-5)