ODU Baseball Opens C-USA Play With WKU; Note Schedule Changes

NORFOLK, Va. -- The Old Dominion Baseball Monarchs open Conference USA play this weekend against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in a three-game series at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. ODU went 1-2 against WKU last season in Bowling Green, Ky. to knot the series record at 4-4.

Due to inclement weather and cold temperatures arriving in the area on Sunday, the Baseball Monarchs will now face the Toppers in a doubleheader on Friday starting at 4 p.m. The second game will start approximately 30 minutes after the first. The series will close with game three on Saturday at 3 p.m.

TICKET INFORMATION
Fans that are planning on traveling to Norfolk can purchase tickets the day of the game at the stadium. ODU baseball voucher books are also on sale. Each voucher book contains 30 vouchers to attend any of the Monarchs' home games this season for just $50. It’s the best value around and you won’t be searching for tickets when it comes time for the Monarchs to host teams like National Champion UVA at Harbor Park. Fans can purchase a voucher book at ynottix.com!

ABOUT ODU
The Monarchs defeated the Princeton Tigers twice during the week to bring their overall record to 13-4. The ODU’s last game, Nick Walker posted a career-high six RBIs, helping the Monarchs cruise to a 10-4 victory. Walker finished the day 3-for-4 with six RBIs, just four off the school record of 10 set by Matt Quatraro at C.W. Post on April 11, 1994. In total, eight of nine ODU bats registered at least one hit on the day. The Monarchs finished the day 10-for-16 with two outs and 6-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Victor Diaz earned the win for the Monarchs after pitching the first five innings and allowing just two hits. He also fanned six batters, tying his career high that he set in a complete win over Florida Atlantic in 2014.

According to NCAA calculations, Old Dominion has the 54th toughest schedule in the nation based on cumulative competition. Based on future competition, the Monarchs sit in 51st on the toughest schedule list. As a team, ODU ranks in the top 30 nationally in five categories, while four individuals rank in the top 50. The Monarchs rank 28th in double plays (16), 29th in stolen bases (28), 32nd in walks (83) 33rd in double plays per game (1.0), and 35th in stolen bases per game (1.75). Walker currently leads the conference and the nation in walks, registering 20 so far on the season. He also ranks fourth in the nation in walks per game (1.25). Sam Sinnen sits in 27th nationally with an ERA of 0.84, while Nick Hartman ranks 43rd with three saves on the year.

ABOUT WKU
The Toppers enters the series with an 11-5 record after a convincing blow out win over the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington on Tuesday. WKU has now won nine of the last 11 meetings in the series, including three straight, and have claimed victories in their last six games against Southeastern Conference opposition. WKU out-hit UK 15-9 en route to racking up its most-ever runs against the in-state rival. Every starting player for the Tops reached base and all but one scored a run.

Logan Weins secured his second consecutive win against an SEC school after 2.2 innings of relief and only allowing one earned run. WKU used four total pitchers as Cody Coll went 3.1 innings as the starter, while Sam Higgs (1.0 IP) and Jackson Sowell (2.0) closed out the victory. In seven appearances in relief in 2016, Sowell has a 0.79 ERA and 12 strikeouts.

SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON