The ODU Baseball Monarchs hit the road to Ruston, LA for a three-game C-USA series against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) Friday at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park in Ruston. You can listen to all the action live on STAR1310 WGH AM Radio with Ted Alexander providing the play-by-play.
After Friday night's contest, the two teams will wrap up the conference series with a doubleheader scheduled to start at 2 p.m. (ET) Saturday. The third game of the series was originally scheduled to be played at 1 p.m. Sunday, but due to impending weather in the area Saturday evening and Sunday morning, that game has been rescheduled as part of a Saturday doubleheader.
The Bulldogs come into this weekend with 7-12 overall record and a 2-4 mark after having played two Conference USA series, while Old Dominion is 12-9 on the season and will also enter the series with a 2-4 league record on the season. The Monarchs are currently 4-3 this season when playing on the road, while Tech is 5-8 at home.
Louisiana Tech will make a slight change to the rotation from last weekend with a trio of right-handers set to take the mound, starting with junior Phil Maton on Friday with Adam Derouen and Richie Navari on Saturday.
ODU has also made a change and will start off the series with sophomore right-hander Tommy Alexander(1-0/3.52), followed by left-hander Andy Roberts(2-0/2.17). The Monarchs have yet to decide on a starter for the second contest on Saturday. As a whole, Old Dominion has a team ERA of 3.02, which ranks seventh in C-USA.
NOTES OF INTEREST: This is the Monarchs third series in C-USA…The Monarchs have played four extra- inning games (2-2) including a doubleheader 17 inning game at Rice followed by a 10 inning contest and a 16 inning contest vs. Liberty Wednesday…Sophomore P.J. Higgins leads the team with a .305 batting average…Taylor Ostrich is second at .301….Brad Gero has a team best six saves and a 1.53 ERA….ODU has a 3.02 Team ERA…. Because of snow, the game at nationally ranked Virginia has been re-scheduled for April 1st at 5 p.m. in Charlottesville…ODU will host Virginia at Harbor Park on April 29th.
TEAM LEADERS
Runs – Negrini (15)
Hits – Higgins (29)
RBI - Slaten (15) & Eldridge (15)
Doubles- Burney (8)
Homeruns – Slaton (3)
Stolen Bases – Myers (7)
Saves: Gero (6)
Appearances: Gero (13)
Baseball Monarchs host Service Appreciation Night
For the second year in a row, Old Dominion Baseball will host “Service Appreciation Night” to honor all those who serve our military and our local community on Friday, March 28th. As part of this game, the Monarchs will open up a C-USA weekend series against the Charlotte 49ers starting at 6:00pm at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
During the game, the Monarchs will recognize all military personnel and first responders (Fire, Police, EMS) in attendance during pre-game ceremonies, the national anthem, and a special performance of “God Bless America” by the ODU Joint ROTC Choir during the seventh-inning stretch. Also, members of ODU’s Army ROTC unit will unveil an oversized American flag during the national anthem.
Tickets to the game are just $5 at the gate or purchase an ODU season voucher book for $50 and receive 32 admissions to any home baseball games. For Service Appreciation Night, members of the military, first responders, and their families will be able to purchase tickets for only $3 and the first 300 service members in the game will receive a FREE cookout with all the fixings in Ralley Alley.