BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Old Dominion baseball team extended its win streak to eight as the Monarchs took down Florida Atlantic, 7-2 on Friday night at FAU Baseball Stadium. The Monarchs' bats came alive in the eighth inning when sophomore Thomas Wheeler recorded his first Monarch home run to spark a five-run inning.
"It was a good ball game, and I was proud of our guys for hanging in there. We were finally able to put up a big inning with five runs in the eighth," ODU head coach Chris Finwood said. "Wheeler picked a great time for his first home run of the year."
ODU (22-5, 8-1 C-USA) scored the games' first two runs when shortstop Tommy Bell sent Lincoln Ransom home with an RBI single in the second inning. Brock Gagliardi touched the plate following a throwing error from FAU.
The Owls (15-14, 4-5 C-USA) scored back-to-back runs in the fourth and fifth innings to knot the game, 2-2.
Wheeler broke the tie in the top of the eighth when he notched a three-run homer. Kyle Battle homered, and Andy Garriola brought home a run to build ODU's lead up to five through eight innings.
The Monarch pitching staff of Tommy Gertner, Aaron Holiday, Jacob Gomez and Jason Hartline combined for 14 strikeouts. Gomez picked up his third win of the season, fanning four and pitching 2.1 scoreless innings. Hartline came on in relief for Gomez and pitched the final 2.0 innings, striking out three Owls.
"Gomez really picked us up out of the bullpen, and Hartline did what he has been doing all year for us. This is such a tough place to win, and they have a very good ball club and are so well coached. We will have to play well to have a chance to win tomorrow," explained Finwood.
At the plate, Matt Coutney, Gagliardi and Garriola went 2-for-5 on the evening. Battle's home run in the eighth was his ninth of the season.
Up Next
ODU and FAU will play a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at the FAU Baseball Stadium.
Baseball Tops FAU, 7-2 Behind Five-Run Eighth Inning
