NORFOLK, Va. – Andy Garriola drove in three runs, including a two-run homer as the Old Dominion University baseball team defeated Ball State 6-3 Friday afternoon.
With the Monarchs leading 4-2 in the seventh, Garriola blasted his two-run homer to right field to put the Monarchs on top 6-2.
Kyle Battle started things off for the Monarchs in the first with a leadoff double and scored on a double by Kenny Levari.
Ball State (6-5) tied the score in the third, but Garriola delivered a two-out single to score Battle to put the Monarchs back on top 2-1.
Old Dominion (10-3) added another run in the fourth. Ryan Teschko hit a two-out double and scored on a single from Tommy Bell for a 3-1 ODU lead.
The Monarchs added a run on a BSU error in the fifth for a 4-1 lead, and it stayed that way until a Chase Sebby single made the score 4-2 Monarchs in the seventh. Garriola's homer made the score 6-2 and the Cardinals added a run in the ninth for the final score.
Gertner earned the win allowing one run in four innings, striking out four. Joey Rodriguez, Aaron Holiday and Jason Hartline finished off the win for the Monarchs.
Battle, Levari and Garriola each had two hits for ODU.
ODU and Ball State play the second of the three game series tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Baseball Monarchs Top Ball State, 6-3
Kenny Levari