NORFOLK, VA—Four Old Dominion University pitchers scattered five hits and PJ Higgins, Connor Myers and Nick Walker each drove in a run as the Monarchs (23-24/9-15) defeated Florida International, 3-0 Sunday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex to take the C-USA series. FIU drops to 21-24/11-13).
ODU’s Adam Bainbridge (Sinking Spring, PA.) and FIU’s Christopher Mourelle were in a scoreless duel when the Monarchs scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Nick Guaragna (Ontario, Canada) and Connor Myers (Middletown, MD.) reached on base hits and Nick Walker’s (Virginia Beach, VA.) fielder’s choice brought home pinch runner Justin Hayes (Chesapeake, VA.) followed by PJ Higgins (Wallingford, CT.) sacrifice fly which plated Myers for a 2-0 ODU lead.
ODU added a run in the seventh on Myers sacrifice fly which brought home Josh Eldridge (Lorton, VA.) from third to make it 3-0.
Starter Adam Bainbridge pitched 5.2 innings allowing just two walks and two strikeouts, Jake Josephs (Fairfax Station, VA.) came on in the sixth inning with FIU threatening and with two runners aboard. He got a pop out to end the inning. Thomas Busbice (Omaha, NE.) pitched the seventh and eighth innings, striking out the side in the eighth and Nick Hartman (Katy,TX.) pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his third save of the year and second of the series.
Josh Eldridge, Josephs Guaragna and Connor Myers each had two hits the day for ODU. Josephs improves to 2-1 on the season.
The Monarchs break for exams and return to action Friday in the final regular season home series against LA Tech (May 8-10), followed by the Key Dog Classic against VCU at War memorial Stadium in Hampton on May 12 and the final regular season series at UAB, May 14-16.
FIU 000 000 000=0-5-4
ODU 000 002 10x=3-6-0
FIU: Mourelle, Durruthy (6), Dopico(7) and Escarra
ODU: Bainbridge, Josephs(6), Busbice(7), Hartman(9) and K.Sinnen, Perez (7)
WP: Josephs (2-1) LLP: Mourelle (5-6) Save: Hartman(3)