NORFOLK, Va. -- The Old Dominion Baseball Monarchs are back in action on Wednesday, as the team travels to returning A-10 Champion and NCAA Super Regional participant VCU. First pitch against the Rams is set for 3:00 p.m. at The Diamond.
HOW TO TUNE IN
The game will be broadcast on Monarch Media with Andy Mashaw on the call. Live stats will also be available once the game begins.
ABOUT ODU
The Baseball Monarchs will enter the matchup with a 9-2 overall record after falling in the final game of the three-game series against Rutgers, 5-2, on Sunday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. Nick Walker led the Monarchs with three hits in four at bats, while scoring one run.
ODU is part of a conference that is in the top four in Division I Conference RPI ratings. Overall, Conference USA is 81-52 overall and has a winning percentage of .609. Only the ACC, SEC and the Pac 12 have a higher Conference RPI mark than C-USA. The Baseball Monarchs are 2-0 on the season against teams in the RPI top 50, including a win over fifth-rated NC State.
Projected Starter: Brett Smith (RHP, Fr.)
Smith has made an appearance in four games this season and has registered a 2.84 ERA. He has fanned seven batters in 6.1 innings pitched. In high school, Smith was a varsity starter in both baseball and football since the 10th grade. On the baseball diamond, he was the Conference Co-Player of the Year and a First Team All-Conference pitching selection as a senior. He also earned Allstate/VHSL Male Athlete of the Year, Meyers Award Region Athlete of the Year and Second Team All-Region pitching honors.
ODU LEADERS
Hitting: .395 Connor Myers (9th C-USA)
Hits: 17 Connor Myers (6th C-USA)
Runs: 12 Connor Myers (5th C-USA)
2B: 5 Connor Myers (1st C-USA)
3B: 1 Four Players (4th C-USA)
HR: 3 Connor Myers (2nd C-USA)
RBI: 9 Connor Myers
BB: 16 Nick Walker (1st C-USA)
SLG: .721 Connor Myers (2nd C-USA)
OBPCT: .549 Nick Walker (6th C-USA)
SB: 4 Two Players (5th C-USA)
W-L: 1-0 Seven Players
SO: 11 Sam Sinnen
ERA: 0.56 Sam Sinnen (2nd C-USA)
Saves: 2 Nick Hartman (1st C-USA)
CG: None
APP: 6 Nick Hartman (1st C-USA)
ABOUT VCU
The Rams enter the contest with a 6-4 overall record after facing off against the Marist Red Foxes in game three of a three game set at The Diamond. Brooks Vial threw a complete game shutout, helping the Rams complete the sweep of Marist by a final score of 3-0. Vial struck out four and walked only one. He also threw only 83 pitches in lowering his season ERA to 3.27. Mitchel Lacey led the offense, as he was one of two Rams with two hits on the night. However, Lacey provided an RBI to his tally on the day.Logan Farrar finished with two hits and a run scored, while Haiden Lamb made the best of his first start of the season by going 1-for-4 with an RBI and a walk.
Projected Starter: Benjamin Dum (RHP, Fr.)
Benjamin has made an appearance in two games and has registered a 36.00 ERA. He pitched one inning against Georgia Tech and allowed four hits and two runs, while committing two errors. He also pitched an inning against Eastern Kentucky, where he allowed three hits, six runs and four walks. He finished high school as the all-time career wins leader for West Perry totaling 34 in a career that included 335 strikeouts, 10 shutouts, three no-hitters and one perfect game.
VCU LEADERS
Hitting: .385 Cook
Hits: 12 Two Players
Runs: 10 Davis
2B: 4 Carpenter
3B: 2 Bunn
HR: 2 Davis
RBI: 10 Haymaker
BB: 8 Berezo
SLG: .1.100 Bunn
OBPCT: .700 Ching
SB: 3 Two Players
W-L: 3-0 Thompson
SO: 17 Thompson
ERA: 0.00 Pearson
Saves: 2 Donko
CG: 1 Vial
APP: 6 Donko