NORFOLK, VA—Old Dominion University senior lefthander Ryan Yarbrough tossed a complete game seven hitter to win game one while senior Ben Slaton and sophomore PJ Higgins each knocked in two runs in game two as the Monarchs (24-16/12-9) swept a C-USA doubleheader from second place UTSA 10-1 and 4-2 Friday evening for the second annual Bark In the park night at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. The win gives the Monarchs their fifth straight C-USA series win.
In game one, Yarbrough (5-4) fanned four and issued no walks to win his fourth straight game. UTSA’s lone run came in the second inning on an RBI hit from John Bormann. At one stretch, Yarbrough retired 17 straight batters. He lowers his ERA to 2.69.
The Monarchs pounded out 15 hits on the night in game one led by senior thirdbaseman Jordan Negrini and senior firstbaseman Josiah Burney with three each. Negrini also led with three RBI on the night. Senior designated hitter Ben Slaton and sophomore centerfielder Connor Myers also had two hits each. ODU exploded for four runs in the bottom of the second two-run doubles by Brian Bashara and Jordan Negrini. The Monarchs added three in the third and one in the fourth, fifth and eighth innings.
In game two, the Monarchs used four pitchers led by junior righthanded starter Victor Diaz (2-2) who pitched five, allowing only one run, no walks and five strikeouts. Senior Dean Ali pitched two innings, Conner Overton and Brad Gero pitched the final two frames. Gero picked up his seventh save of the year. In all, ODU’s pitchers fanned 11 UTSA batters.
In the ODU first inning, P.J. Higgins RBI groundout brought freshman Nick Walker home from third. After UTSA tied the game in the top of the third, ODU regained the lead for good in the bottom half on a sacrifice fly RBI from Ben Slaton which brought home Brian Bashara.
The Monarchs added two more runs in the seventh on another Slaton sacrifice fly which brought home Connor Myers, followed by a PJ Higgins RBI single which plated Brian Bashara.
Junior rightfielder Taylor Ostrich led the Monarchs with two hits on the night, while senior shortstop Brian Bashara scored twice.
ODU returns to action Monday night at East Carolina in a non-conference game which was just added at 6 pm.
GAME ONE
UTSA 010 000 000=1-7-2
ODU 043 110 01x=10-15-0
UTSA: Trabanino, Mokry(3), Shewcraft(4), Branon(6), Talley(8) and Bormann
ODU: Yarbrough and Livers
WP: Yarbrough (5) LP: Trabanino (6-2)
GAME TWO
UTSA 001 000 001=2-8-1
ODU 101 000 20x=4-7-0
UTSA: Anderson, Onda(4), Cox(7), Sims(8) and Bormann
ODU: Diaz, Ali(6), Overton (8), Gero (9) and Higgins,Livers(8)
WP: Diaz(2-2) LP: Anderson (3-3) Save: Gero (7)