NORFOLK, VA—The ODU Monarchs (24-24/10-15) defeated La Tech (23-23/7-17) Friday night, 7-0 behind the pitching of sophomore right-hander Sam Sinnen (Virginia Beach, VA.) and the hitting of designated hitter Josh Eldridge (Lorton, VA.).
Sinnen pitched seven shutout innings with no walks, seven strikeouts and only five hits to improve his record to 6-2. He has won four straight C-USA games and has now allowed an earned run in his last two games. He and reliever Thomas Busbice (Omaha, NE.) combined on a five-hit shutout, ODU’s fourth of the season.
Josh Eldridge was a perfect four-for-four with two RBI, including a solo homer, his fifth in the third inning which ties him for the team lead with Nick Walker (Virginia Beach, VA.).
ODU scored two runs in the first as sophomore Joe Guaragna (Ontario, Canada) singled home Zach Rutherford (Chesapeake, VA.) and Connor Myers (Middletown, MD.) followed with an RBI single which plated Eldridge.
In the sixth, senior catcher Mike Perez (Fairfax Station, VA.) belted a solo homer over the left field wall, while Eldridge drove home PJ Higgins in the seventh for a 5-0 lead. ODU added two more runs in the eighth on a two-run single by Higgins which plated Nick Walker and Mike Perez.
The Bulldogs threatened in the third innings with two outs. Thomas Simoneaux doubled and when Bryce Stark singled Simoneaux was thrown out at the plate by Walker to end the inning.
ODU had 12 hits on the night. Besides Eldridge’s four, PJ Higgins, the C-USA’s second leading hitter at .356 had two as did Connor Myers and Mike Perez. Junior righthander Thomas Busbice (Omaha, NE.) pitched the last two innings of scoreless relief.
The two teams play again Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. ODU will honor their six seniors in a pre-game ceremony as well as ODU’s 1963, 64 and 65 NCAA College Division East Region Champions.
LA TECH 000 000 000=0-5-0
ODU 201 001 12x=7-12-1
LT: Maton, Keating(7), Derouen(8) and Diaz
ODU: S.Sinnen, Busbice(8) and Perez
HR: ODU- Eldridge (5), Perez(4)