NORFOLK, VA—Old Dominion (16-10/6-5) pounded out 12 hits and three-pitchers held the Charlotte 49ers to two runs as the Monarchs captured game two of the series, 6-2 Saturday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. The victory gives ODU its second straight C-USA series win. Today’s contest was moved up to 1 p.m. to beat the oncoming weather in the Hampton Roads area.
ODU trailed, 2-1 going into the bottom of the fourth, but rallied for two runs to retake the lead. P.J. Higgins singled with one out and after advancing to second on a groundout, scored on a Mike Perez single. Perez would later score on a wild pitch to give ODU a 3-2 lead.
In the sixth inning, Mike Perez doubled home Taylor ostrich and freshman Nate Walker singled fhome both Perez and PJ Higgins for the 6-2 lead. The Monarchs first run came in the second inning on a PJ Higgins hit which plated Ostrich who led off the inning with a triple.
The 49ers scored two runs in the four on a lead-off solo homer by Corbin Shive, then added another run on a safety squeeze RBI by Des Roberts which brought home Derek Gallello.
ODU senior Dean Ali picked up the win in relief. He pitched 3.1 innings, allowing one walk and one strikeout. He came on in the fourth to get out of a bases loaded jam. Conner Overton picked up his second save of the year, striking out two in 2.2 innings. Overton came on with two runners on base and got out of the jam with a line-out double play.
Nick Walker and Mike Perez led ODU with two RBI each, while Taylor Ostrich and P.J. Higgins each had three hits for the Monarchs.
Charlotte was led by designated hitter Logan Sherer with three hits, followed by Derek Gallello with two.
The third and final game of the series will be Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
CHA 000 200 000=2-9-1
ODU 010 203 00x=6-12-2
CHA: Butler, Wells(6), May(7) and Lang
ODU: Alexander, Ali(4), Overton (7) and Perez
HR: CHA- Shive(3)
WP: Ali(4-2) LP: Butler(1-4) Save: Alexander (2)