NORFOLK, VA—Sophomore righthander Sam Sinnen (Virginia Beach, VA.) pitched seven scoreless innings and senior designated hitter Taylor Ostrich (Carroll, IA.) belted a three-run homer to lead the Monarchs (17-13) to a 5-1 non-conference win over the Flames of Liberty (21-11) Monday night. In a match-up of two teams who both played in last year’s NCAA tournament, the Monarchs won their third straight and ended Liberty’s seven-game winning streak.
Sinnen and Liberty starter Parker Bean were in a scoreless duel for four-plus innings until the bottom of the fifth when Ostrich hit a three-run homer to right with PJ Higgins (Wallingford, CT.) and Zach Rutherford (Chesapeake, VA.) aboard to give ODU a 3-0 lead.
The Monarchs added two more runs in the sixth when Nick Walker (Virginia Beach, VA.) singled home pinch runner Joseph Guaragna (Mississauga, Ontario) and PJ Higgins later singled home Walker to make it 5-0.
Sinnen (3-2), who combined on a shutout last week against William & Mary, pitched seven scoreless innings allowing just three hits, no walks and fanned three batters.
Liberty’s lone run came in the eighth when Will shepherd hit into a double play, scoring Sammy Taormina from third. Higgins, Rutherford and Walker each had two hits on the night for ODU. Ostrich has now hit two homes in the last four games for the Monarchs.
The Monarchs return to action Wednesday night when they host VCU at 6 p.m. at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
LU 000 000 010=1-5-1
ODU 000 032 00x=5-8-2
LU: Bean, Evans(5), Clinton(6) and Sankey
ODU: S.Sinnen, Busbice(8) and K.Sinnen, Perez (7)
WP: S.Sinnen(3-2) LP: Bean(3-3)
HR: Ostrich(3)