May 3, 2013
NORFOLK, VA--ODU's junior righthander Dean Ali (Chesapeake, VA.) and freshman lefthander Jake Josephs (Fairfax Station, VA.) combined for a seven-hit shutout as the Monarchs (25-21/14-11) defeated the Patriots of George Mason, 3-0 Friday night at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. The win was the Monarchs fourth straight.
Ali (3-3) pitched six innings, allowing four hits, walking just one and striking out seven. Josephs pitchedthe final three innings to pick up his second save of the season. He allowed three hits and struckout one.Ali lowered his earned run average to 2.70.
ODU scored in the first when freshman secondbaseman Ben Verlander (Goochland, VA.) for a 1-0 ODU lead. The Monarchs added two more runs in the fifth on a RBI bunt single by Sophomore Josh Eldridge (Lorton, VA.) which scored freshman centerfielder Connor Myers (Middletown, MD.) and Eldridge would later score on a Mason error to make it 3-0.
Mason threatened in both the seventh and ninth innings but stranded two runs each. Blaise Fernandez and Anthony Montefusco each had two hits for the Patriots.
ODU was led by junior rightfielder Ben Verlander who had three hits on the night to up his average to .383, while Higgins had two hits to up his average to .395.
Game two of the series is Saturday at 3 p.m. The contest will be televised live on Cox Channel 11 in Hampton Roads and on a tape delayed basis in Northern Virginia and Roanoke. The contest can also be heard live on STAR1310 AM radio in Hampton Roads.
There will be a pre-game ceremony for ODU's six seniors: Brandon Smith, Austin McGowan, Mike Ney, Erick Baker.
Mason 000 000 000=0-7-1ODU 100 020 00x=3-10-1
Mason - Gaynor and EspositoODU - Ali, Joseph(7) and PerezWP: Ali (3-3) LP: Gaynor (2-8) SAVE: Josephs (2)