CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.-- Matt Cogen (Franklin, TN.) drove in four runs on three hits to help lead the Monarchs (7-5) to a 14-5 victory over top-ranked Virginia (12-2) Wednesday evening at Davenport Field. It was the Monarchs second straight victory over the Cavaliers. ODU defeated then No. 1 UVa. last year, 8-1 at Harbor Park. Overall, the Monarchs have won five straight games.
Matt Cogen, senior Taylor Ostrich (Carroll, IA) and Josh Eldridge (Lorton, VA.) led ODU with three hits each, while P.J. Higgins (Wallingford, CT.), Connor Myers (Middletown, MD.) and Mike Perez (Fairfax Station, Va.) collected two hits each. Nick Lustrino (Spring Lake, NJ.) and Myers also knocked in two runs.
ODU got on the board In the second inning as senior catcher Mike Perez brought home Nick Lustrino on a sacrifice fly. Connor Myers also scored in that inning on a throwing error.
In the ODU third Inning Ostrich singled home Higgins and Nick Walker doubled home Ostrich.
In the seventh, Eldridge singled home Higgins followed by a Nick Lustrino single to bring home both Eldridge and Ostrich. Nick Walker scored on a Cavalier error and Cogen finished the inning with a single to bring home both Myers and Lustrino for a 10-4 ODU lead.
ODU tacked on four more in the eighth when Myers singled in Walker and Eldridge followed by a Cogen double which plated Perez and Myers.Senior Victor Diaz picked up the win in relief.
Matt Thaiss led the Cavaliers with two hits, two RBI’s and two runs scored. He belted a two-run homer in the fifth which brought Virginia to within one run at 4-3.
The Monarchs open Conference USA Play Friday with a three-game series in Bowling Green, KY against the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky where ODU head coach Chris Finwood coached from 2006-2011 where he led them to two NCAA appearances and was the 2009 Sun Belt Conference Coach of The Year. It will be the first meeting between the two since 1991 when both were members of the Sun Belt Conference.
NOTE: Virginia in the Latest National Rankings
USA Today Coaches, NCBWA – 1 Perfect Game - 2
D1Baseball, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball - 3
ODU 022 000 640=14-17-2
UVA 010 020 011= 5-10-2
ODU- N. Matheson, Diaz (4) Bainbridge (7), Bishop(8,), S. Sinnen(9) and Perez
UVA- Casey, Rosenberger(3), Roberts (3), Doherty (5,) Bettinger (7), Sousa (7), Doyle (9) and Thiass
HR- (UVa)Thaiss, Townes
WP:Diaz (3-1)
LP:Casey (0-1)