NORFOLK, VA—Old Dominion University senior lefthander Andy Roberts (Prescott, AZ.) pitched a complete game five-hitter to lead the Monarchs to a 4-1 C-USA victory over UAB Sunday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. ODU is 12-8 overall and 2-4 in C-USA, while the Blazers are 16-5 overall and 4-2 in the league.
Junior leftfielder Josh Eldridge (Lorton, VA.) put ODU on the board first with an RBI single in the second inning which brought home senior shortstop Brian Bashara (Norfolk, VA. )from third. Bashara reached on a two-out error and freshman Nick Walker (Virginia Beach, VA.) followed with a single. UAB tied the game in the fourth on Jeff Schalk’s RBI hit which scored Ryan Prinzing.
In the sixth inning, senior thirdbaseman Jordan Negrini (Kihei HI.)singled and was sacrificed to second by freshman catcher Kurt Sinnen (Virginia Beach, VA.). Bashara singled in Negrini from second for a 2-1 ODU lead. Walker drew a bases on ball and with two outs Taylor Ostrich (Carroll, IA.) singled home Bashara to give ODU a 3-1 lead. Senior designated hitter Ben Slaton (Magnolia, MS.) then finished the scoring with a single to bring in Walker and a 4-1 ODU lead.
Roberts fanned four, walked three and scattered five hits on the day. After giving up the run in the fourth, Roberts allowed just two hits and a walk and he picked off two of those runners at first base. In pitching his first collegiate complete game, Roberts is now 2-0 with a 2.17 earned run average.
Nick Walker, Josh Eldridge, Taylor Ostrich and Ben Slaton had two hits each on the day. Walker is now hitting .370, Ostrich is at .312 and Slaton is hitting .304. Josh Eldridge and Ben Slaton each knocked in a run today tying the two for the team RBI lead at 15 each. Eldridge hit .364 with a .375 on base percentage and .591 slugging percentage along with eight RBI this week.
The Monarchs return to action at home Wednesday afternoon at 3:05 (note the time change) against Liberty.
UAB 000 100 000=1-5-1
ODU 010 003 00x=4-10-0
UAB: Lieske , Rose(6), Lamar(6) and Mims
ODU: Roberts and K.Sinnen
WP: Roberts (2-0) LP: Rose (0-1)