CONWAY – Old Dominion lost its season opener to Coastal Carolina, 4-0 in the Caravelle Resort Tournament played in the new Springs Brooks Stadium. The Chanticleers (1-0) did all their scoring in the third inning thanks to two-run home runs by shortstop Michael Paez and junior catcher Casey Schroeder. A crowd of 1,736 were in attendance for the on campus stadium opener.
The Monarchs threatened late, loaded the bases in the top of the ninth inning. Senior Taylor Ostrich (Carroll, IA.) reached on a fielder’s choice and junior shortstop Jason McMurray singled followed by a single from pinch hitter Derek Francis(Manhattan, KS.) to load the bases with two outs, but Coastal’s reliever Mike Morrison came in and got a strikeout to end the game.
Senior designated hitter Josh Eldridge (Lorton, VA.) and junior shortstop Jason McMurray led the Monarchs with two hits each. ODU relievers Nate Matheson (Hampton, VA.), Nick Hartman (Katy,TX.) and Jared Koenig (Aptos, CA.) pitched five scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and one walk.
Chanticleer starter Alex Cunningham picked up the win with relief help from Austin Kerr and Morrison allowing eight hits, walking four and striking out six Monarchs. Schroeder led Coastal Carolina with two hits on the day.
The Coastal-ODU game was not actually the first game to be played in Springs Brooks Stadium. Earlier in the day, Maryland defeated Western Kentucky, 7-3, in game one of the seventh annual Caravelle Resort Tournament. The event will feature three games Saturday at Springs Brooks Stadium, including Canisius-Maryland at 11 am, Western Kentucky-Coastal Carolina at 2:30 pm and Maryland-ODU at 6 pm in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Regional.
ODU 000 000 000=0-8-2
CCU 004 000 00x=4-6=0
ODU- G.Tomchick, Matheson(4), Hartman(6), Keonig(8) and Perez
CCU: Cunningham, Kerr(6), Morrison(9) and Schroeder
WP: Cunningham (1-0) LP: Tomchick(0-1), Save Morrison(1)
HR. CCU-Paez, Schroeder