LEXINGTON, Va. - P.J. Higgins had four hits and Jason McMurray slugged a grand slam in a seven-run sixth inning to lift Old Dominion University baseball to an 11-3 win at VMI on Wednesday afternoon.
ODU improves to 13-8 on the year while the Keydets drop to 5-12.
With the Monarchs clinging to a 4-3 lead entering the sixth, ODU exploded for seven runs in the inning. Derek Francis led off the inning with a walk followed by a Connor Myers infield single and a Mike Perez walk. Nick Lustrino worked a pinch-hit walk to drive in Francis and McMurray cleared the bases with the first home run of his ODU career to give ODU a 9-3 lead. The inning continued with a Nick Walker walk and stolen base. Walker scored on a P.J. Higgins single while Higgins scored on a Taylor Ostrich single for the seventh run of the inning.
ODU struck first in the top of the second as McMurray worked a two-out walk and Walker followed with a two-run homer for the 2-0 lead.
VMI tied the score in the bottom half with a Will Connerley home run and sacrifice fly.
Francis gave ODU a 3-2 lead with a sacrifice fly in the third and in the fourth pushed the lead to 4-2 when Higgins scored on a wild pitch.
Ostrich added two hits for ODU while Higgins, Walker and McMurray each scored two runs.
Nate Matheson earned his first collegiate win pitching four innings, allowing five hits and two runs.