MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- The Old Dominion Monarchs moved to 3-0 to start the season for the first time since 2010 after defeating Appalachian State 12-3 on the final day of the Caravelle Resort Tournament.
The Baseball Monarchs took the early lead once again in the first inning after senior centerfielder Connor Myers blasted a homerun to left field. Old Dominion then put up a season-high four runs to increase its lead to 5-0 in the third inning. With the bases loaded, junior catcher Kyle Beam singled through the left side, scoring Myers and Will Morgan. Beam then advanced to second base on a failed pickoff attempt, which also allowed Nick Walker to reach home plate with ease. Jason McMurray capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing Beam in for the fourth run of the inning.
The Mountaineers got two hits in the third, but a double play from Rutherford to McMurray to Finwood and a pickoff from Bainbridge ended the threat. Last season, the Monarchs only posted two pickoffs the entire year.
After 21.1 inning of scoreless innings, the Baseball Monarchs let up a run in the bottom of the fourth. Beau Myers singled to center field and was followed by a double by Colin Schmid to right center to score the run. Despite giving up the run, Old Dominion held an 8-1 edge over the Mountaineers heading into the seventh inning after scoring a run in the fourth, fifth and sixth, which included a home run by Beam.
Both teams registered a run in the eighth, while ODU put up three more in the ninth to secure the 12-3 victory over the Mountaineers.
Victor Diaz made his season debut on the mound in the sixth inning and went 1-2-3 with a pair of strikeouts and a ground-out. He finished the game with four strikeouts and one error in three innings of work. Morgan Maguire entered the game in the bottom of the ninth, while Bainbridge, the starting pitcher, went 5.0 innings for the Monarchs, fanning one batter.
Beam went 3-for-4 on the day with one homer and three RBI to lead ODU. Myers also finished 3-for-5 with one RBI and a home run, while also posting one of ODU’s three stolen bases.
Schmid got the loss for App State, pitching 3.1 innings for the Mountaineers and allowed six runs and had five errors during his time on the mound.
The Monarchs are back in action on Tuesday against the Norfolk State Spartans at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex at 3:00 p.m.
ODU | 104 111 013 = 12-9-1
App State | 000 100 011 = 3-9-3
ODU | Bainbridge, Diaz (6), Maguire (9)
App State | Schmid, Howell (4), Schoch (6), Watts (8), McCann (9)
WP | Adam Bainbridge (1-0)
LP | Colin Schmid (0-1)
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