HAMPTON, VA—The Rams (30-22) of VCU defeated ODU (26-25), 9-3 in the second annual Key Dog Classic at War Memorial Stadium. Jimmy Kerrigan hit a three-run homer in the third inning and Vimael Machin drove in two runs to lead the Rams. ODU was led by freshman Justin Hayes with two hits and two RBI in the loss which ended ODU’s four-game winning streak.
After ODU cut VCU’s lead to 4-2 with back-to-back doubles by Nick Walker and Justin Hayes followed by a sacrifice fly RBI by Josh Eldridge, VCU scored four runs in the third highlighted by a three-run homer by Kerrigan to push the Rams lead to 7-2.
Nick Lustrino, Nick Walker joined Hayes with two hits each for ODU, while Vimael Machin, Darian Carpenter and James Bunn each had two hits for VCU. Carpenter also hit a solo homer in the seventh inning.
ODU returns to action Thursday night when they travel to Birmingham, AL for a three-game C-USA series against UAB. Thursday’s game time is 7:30 (ET).
ODU 002 100 000=3-8-0
VCU 124 100 10x=9-12-0
ODU: Tomchick, Benitez(3), Matheson(4), Bishop(6), Rienerth (7), BUsbice(8) and Higgins & K.Sinnen(5)
VCU: Blanchard, Gill(3), Lees(5),Buckley (7), Concepcion (9) and Coale
HR: VCU-Kerrigan (3), Carpenter (5)
WP: Lees (6-2) LP: Tomchick (3-5)