NORFOLK, VA—ODU seniors Mike Perez (Fairfax Station, VA.) and Josh Eldridge (Lorton, VA.) each knocked in a run and three Monarch pitchers scattered five hits as ODU defeated 23rd ranked Virginia, 3-1 before crowd of 6029 at Harbor Park which is the largest collegiate baseball crowd in state history. The previous was 5421 on May 3, 2011 at the Richmond Diamond for Virginia-VCU game. ODU has now beat Virginia three straight times.
Freshman Zach Rutherford scored ODU’s first run on a UVA throwing error in the first inning. Mike Perez then singled home Connor Myers (Middletown, MD.) in the fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie. In the fifth inning, Josh Eldridge singled home PJ Higgins (Wallingford, CT.) for a 3-1 lead.
The Cavaliers lone run came in the fourth inning on a solo homer by Pavin Smith over the rightfield wall.
ODU pitchers Greg Tomchick (Virginia Beach, VA.), Joey Benitez (1-1) from Crofton, MD.) and Nick Hartman (Katy,TX.) scattered five hits and one run, walking two with one strikeout for the win. The Monarchs are now 5-4 against the nation’s to-25 teams this season. ODU is 2-1 against Rice, 2-0 against Virginia, 1-2 against FAU and 0-1 against Maryland.
ODU hosts FIU in a C-USA series beginning Friday night at 6 p.m. at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
UVA 000 100 000=1-5-2
ODU 100 110 00x=3-8-1
ODU: Tomchick, Benitez (5), Hartman (8) and Perez
UVA: Haseley, Doyle(4), Doherty (5), Roberts and Coman
HR: UVA-Smith
WP: Benitez(1-1)
LP: Haseley (1-1)
Save: Hartman(1)