NORFOLK, VA--The ODU Baseball Monarchs (9-6) return home for six straight games beginning Tuesday with a series against VMI at 6 p.m. at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. Wednesday's game will be at 3 p.m.
ODU and VMI have played 46 times with ODU leading 37-9. Last year, the Monarchs in Lexington and in Norfolk. The Keydets last win over ODU was in 2008 in Lexington, a 4-3 decision in 11 innings. VMI has already beaten nationally ranked Kentucky and Virginia this season. The Keydets leading hitter is outfielder Brandon Anbus at .353, while fellow outfielder Jordan Tarsovich is hitting .296 with a team best 10 RBI and 11 runs scored.
ODU is scheduled to throw junior righthander Greg Tomchick (0-0/0.00) Tuesday while VMI will counter with lefthander Campbell Henkel (1-1/6.75).
Marlin Ikenberry is in his 11th season at VMI and was ODU's head coach Chris Finwood's first recruit at VMI. Finwood joined the 300 win club in the Monarchs 2-1 win in 10 innings over No. 18 Rice on Sunday.
ODU is led in hitting by Ben Slaton with a .317 average along with a team best three homers and 12 RBI. He and sophomore secondbaseman P.J. Higgins have crossed home plate 12 times each to lead the team. Higgins enters the contest on an 11 game hitting streak.
Centerfielder Connor Myers is hitting .273 and leads the team with six stolen bases. Firstbaseman Josiah Burney leads the team with six double followed by Slaton and Higgins wiht five each. Junior catcher Mike Perez has a team best two triples. As a team, ODU is hitting .270.
On the mound, the Monarchs have a 2.99 team earned run average which is eighth in C-USA and a .977 field average which ranks second in C-USA.
Senior reliever Brad Gero is 2-1 with a 0.63 ERA along with 10 appearances and a league best five saves. Freshman Sam Sinnen is 1-0 with a 1.04 ERA, followed by Victor Diaz at 1-1 with a 1.62 ERA. ODU weekend starters Andy Roberts is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA, Tommy Alexander is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA and Ryan Yarbrough is 1-2 at 4.09.