NORFOLK, Va. – The No. 25 Old Dominion baseball team split its doubleheader with No. 15 Charlotte on Saturday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. The 49ers won game one, 6-2 and the Monarchs picked up a 14-2 victory in game two.
"Nick Pantos had just one inning in the first game where the inning got away from him, but overall he pitched really well," ODU head coach Chris Finwood said. "Charlotte just beat us in that game, they got the big hits when they needed them. That's two weeks in a row where we haven't done anything with Lindsey, he's pitched great against us, so you have to tip your cap to him."
Charlotte (31-13, 18-5 C-USA) took a 4-0 advantage through the third inning. The Monarchs cut the 49ers deficit in half in the fourth inning. Following back-to-back walks, Andy Garriola singled to knock in a run. Brock Gagliardi reached on a fielder's choice, sending home Carter Trice.
In the sixth, ODU (30-11, 16-7 C-USA) put two runners in scoring position with two outs, but stranded the tying run. The 49ers tacked on two runs in the seventh to pick up its first win at the Bud for the series.
Nick Pantos was charged with the loss, giving up three earned runs. The redshirt junior fanned seven batters in 4.1 innings of action.
In game two, Charlotte jumped out to an early 2-0 start in the first frame.
The Monarchs put together a seven-spot in the second inning, highlighted by a Kyle Battle grand slam. Garriola led off with a hit by pitch and Matt Coutney singled. Tommy Bell walked to load the bases before Jared Hancock sent home Garriola with a two out walk.
BATTLE GRAND SLAM ?? BATTLE GRAND SLAM ??????
— Old Dominion Baseball (@ODUBaseball) May 1, 2021
ODU 5 | CLT 2#ODUSports | #ReignOn | #Monarchs pic.twitter.com/SUPUTSb9a9
ODU added to its onslaught in the third and fourth innings. Bell plated a run with a single to put ODU up, 8-2. In the fourth, Trice and Garriola led off with a walk and single, respectively. Coutney walked to load the bases, and Thomas Wheeler cleared the bases with a 3 RBI triple. Bell delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Wheeler. With two outs, Kenny Levari delivered an RBI single to play the Monarchs' sixth run of the frame.
Hunter Gregory pitched his third complete game of the season as he fanned seven batters and allowed just two runs in 7.0 innings of work.
"I was really proud of how the guys bounced back, especially after getting down 2-0 in the first," said Finwood. "We had a big second inning where Battle hits the grand slam and then we have a six-spot added on to it. Hunter has been that way, where when we give him the lead, he settles in and doesn't give up a run after the first inning and throws six-straight zeroes."
Up Next
The series finale of the top-25 matchup will be on Sunday, beginning at 3 p.m. at the Bud.