CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In a highly anticipated top-20 C-USA matchup, the No. 20 Old Dominion baseball team split its doubleheader with No. 19 Charlotte on Friday evening at Hayes Stadium. The Monarchs were edged, 5-4 to start the day against the 49ers, but bounced back in the second game with a 9-5 victory.
"We just got beat in game one. Bryce McGowan was really good for Charlotte," said ODU head coach Chris Finwood. "We hung in there and they threw the tying run out at the plate in the eighth, but I was proud of Gertner and how he hung in there for us. Holiday also threw the ball well."
In game one, the 49ers (27-11, 15-3 C-USA) jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a three-run jack from David McCabe in the first inning. Charlotte tacked on a run in the second inning off an ODU error.
ODU (28-8, 14-4 C-USA) got back within one in the sixth inning when junior Brock Gagliardi went yard to knock in three runs.
Charlotte regained a two-run lead after scoring off an ODU error.
The Monarchs fought to tie up the game in the eighth inning, plating one run off a Kenny Levari single. Tommy Bell attempted to reach home from second but was tagged out at the plate as the Monarchs fell short, 5-4 in the first game.
Starting pitcher Tommy Gertner was charged with his first loss of the season. In 5.2 innings of work, Gertner struck out five. Aaron Holiday tossed the final 2.1 innings, not allowing a hit and struck out one 49er.
In the second game of the day, ODU took down the 49ers, 9-5. The Monarchs wasted no time getting on the board, putting up three runs in the first frame by way of back-to-back home runs from Andy Garriola and Gagliardi.
ODU broke it open in the fourth inning, tacking on four runs off three hits. Gagliardi led off with a walk, Matt Coutney doubled, and Thomas Wheeler delivered an RBI single to bring home Gagliardi. Senior Kyle Battle knocked in a run with a two-out single. The Monarchs tacked on their final run of the frame off a Charlotte error, to lead 7-0.
Charlotte notched its first run of the game in the eighth.
ODU continued its scoring in the ninth as pinch hitter Ryan Teschko hit a two-run jack to extend ODU's lead, 9-1. The longball marked ODU's 66th home run of the season, which tied the program's single season home run record from 1997.
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— Old Dominion Baseball (@ODUBaseball) April 24, 2021
Ryan Teschko sends one out of Hayes Stadium to notch ODU's 66th homer of the season, which matches the single season record of homers from 1997!
ODU 9 | CLT 1#ODUSports | #ReignOn | #Monarchs pic.twitter.com/HR4ATpiElo
Charlotte closed out the game with an offensive spark, notching four runs.
Gagliardi finished the day going 2-for-5 at the plate with two homers and four RBIs.
Hunter Gregory picked up his fifth victory of the season, striking out five batters in 5.0 innings of work. Jacob Gomez, Brett Smith and Jason Hartline pitched the remainder of the game in relief, allowing five runs.
"In game two we had some big home runs that gave us some cushion. Gregory gave us a really good start on short rest. It was a good, long day of baseball and I'm proud of how we bounced back," said Finwood. "We get a day off tomorrow and we'll be back at it with them for another doubleheader Sunday!"
Up Next
Due to heavy rain in the forecast, ODU and Charlotte will not meet Saturday. The two top-20 squads will face off on Sunday, April 25 for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Hayes Stadium.