KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Old Dominion fell to reigning Big Ten champ Iowa, 4-1, on Sunday at Osceola Heritage Park, as ODU went 1-2 during the opening weekend of the 2018 season.
Iowa (3-0) scored two runs in the second inning and one in the third to take an early lead and chase ODU starter Michael Blanchard after three innings. The Monarchs had runners in scoring position in five of the nine innings, but could not find the break-through hit. Overall, ODU left 12 men on base and was 0-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
Kyle Battle, who drove in the Monarchs' lone run, and Vinnie Pasquantino both recorded two-hit games. Battle hit a team-leading .429 for the weekend.
On the mound, Blanchard received the loss, allowing three runs, one of which was unearned, in three innings of work. True freshman Connor Muly made his ODU debut, tossing two shutout innings of relief.
Up next, ODU hosts Richmond on Tuesday at 3 p.m. for the 2018 home opener.
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