ODU and VCU Square Off in Key Dog Classic at War Memorial Stadium

NORFOLK, Va. -- One of the most heated college baseball rivalries in the state of Virginia will be put on display to honor the late VCU Baseball Coach Paul Keyes (ODU '84), who lost his courageous battle with cancer in November of 2012, when the Rams and Monarchs play in the Key Dog Strike Out Cancer Classic on May 17th at War Memorial Stadium in Hampton, Va.

Keyes was the head coach of the Rams for 18 years amassing 603 wins. He was also a four-year letter winner and standout for the Monarch baseball team, graduating from Old Dominion in 1984. General admission tickets are $5 each and can only be purchased at the gate on the day of the game. Students from both universities will receive free admission with a valid student ID. All proceeds will be donated to Paul's wife, Trisha and family.

The Monarchs hold an 88-61 advantage in the all-time series that began in 1977. Earlier this season, ODU defeated the 2015 Super Regional participant, 3-1, at The Diamond in Richmond, Va. Nick Lustrino and Zach Rutherford both went 2-for-4 on the day, with Rutherford driving in a run. Catcher Kurt Sinnen posted one hit, one run and one RBI in three at bats. Freshman pitcher Brett Smith earned the win for ODU, after pitching in 4.2 innings and fanning three. Nick Hartman picked up the save, as he closed the final two innings with three strikeouts.

Old Dominion enters the matchup fresh off its third straight series win with a 6-2 victory over Middle Tennessee on Sunday. With the series win, the Monarchs solidified their spot in the 2016 Conference USA Baseball Tournament in Hattiesburg, Miss. ODU is led by a .327 average from Rutherford, who also leads the team with 67 hits in 51 games. Connor Myers is the only other Monarch hitting above .300, as he holds a .311 batting average and leads the team with 16 doubles and five home runs. 

The VCU Rams (33-16) offense put up a double-digit day in both the runs and hits column for the second straight game, as they took on the Presbyterian College Blue Hose in game three of a three game series, 10-7. Darian Carpenter supplied a 3-for-5 day with a home run, two doubles, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Starting pitcher Luke Crabb pitched 4.0 innings of scoreless baseball, only giving up two hits.

Jimmy Kerrigan leads the Rams with a .311 batting average with 57 hits, including 12 doubles and three home runs to go along with his team-leading 31 RBIs. Matt Davis is not far behind, as he is hitting .310 and has registered a team high 63 hits. As a team, VCU is hitting .260 and holds a 3.83 ERA. 

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