Old Dominion (22-8) at Virginia (26-6)
Game Info – Tuesday, April 12 at 6 p.m.
Location – Davenport Field at Disharoon Park (Charlottesville, Va.)
Follow – ACCNX | ODU Sports Radio Network | Live Stats
NORFOLK, Va. – A pair of top-10 offenses are set to collide on Tuesday as the Old Dominion baseball team travels to No. 5-ranked Virginia for a 6 p.m. tilt. The Monarchs enter the game ranked seventh in the nation with 9.7 runs per game, and the Cavaliers lead Division I with 10.3 runs per game. The game is streaming live on ACCNX and being carried over the air on Money Talk 1310 AM 100.9 FM and 97.3 HD2.
Around the Horn
The Monarchs dropped their weekend conference series to UTSA two games to one. ODU took the opener 11-0 on the strength of a combined shutout by Blake Morgan and Jacob Gomez. Morgan allowed just three hits over six innings while striking out 10 in his first weekend start. Gomez finished off the Roadrunners with three strikeouts over three innings. Morgan earned Conference USA Pitcher of the Week honors on Monday.
Andy Garriola became the new home run king at Old Dominion on Friday, hitting the 38th of his career in the seventh inning.
ODU was one strike away from winning the series on Saturday, but UTSA hit a three-run homer against Noah Dean in the top of the ninth to force extra innings and eventually won 8-7 in 11 innings. Matt Coutney went 2-for-3 with a home run and three runs scored, and Robbie Petracci had three hits, one homer, and drove in three.
Carter Trice and Garriola each had solo homers on Sunday, but it wasn't enough in a 13-4 loss.
ODU still leads the conference in batting average (.315), doubles (76), home runs (66), on base percentage (.413), scoring (9.7), slugging (.582) and stolen bases (47).
Garriola and Trice are 1-2 in C-USA in long balls. Garriola has 15 homers and also tops the conference in RBIs (50) and slugging (.843). Trice has left the yard 12 times and is second in runs scored (38) and stolen bases (12).
Scouting Virginia
The Cavaliers enter the game on their first losing streak of the season following a sweep at No. 8 Miami (Fla.) over the weekend. UVA managed only two hits in a 6-2 loss on Friday before leaving the bases loaded in the ninth inning in a 5-4 loss on Saturday. The Hurricanes then ran away with Sunday's game, 15-5.
Virginia has not lost a nonconference game this season, going 15-0 in those games.
The Cavaliers rank third nationally in batting average (.326), fourth in on base percentage (.435), fifth in strikeouts per nine innings (11.4) sixth in hits (372) and 10th in earned run average (3.30).
Jake Gelof leads UVA with 45 hits, a .398 average, 14 home runs and 54 RBIs. He is second in the nation in RBIs and slugging (.894) and is fourth in home runs.
Will Geerdes is expected to start on the mound for UVA. He is 2-0 with a 4.00 ERA in 13 appearances this season. He has 17 strikeouts in 18 innings.
The Series
ODU holds a narrow 28-26 edge over its in-state rival. The two teams met in the finals of the NCAA Columbia Regional last season with the Cavaliers winning twice to advance to the Super Regionals.
What's Next
The Monarchs stay on the road for a C-USA series at UAB Thursday through Saturday
Commonwealth Classic Alumni Event
The Old Dominion University Alumni Association is hosting an event during the Commonwealth Classic game against Virginia at Harbor Park on April 26. The event will take place in a private space in left field. The price of the event is $30 per person and includes a ticket to the game and a buffet. Additionally, beer and wine will be available for purchase. Click here to reserve your spot.
Voucher Books!
The 2021-22 Old Dominion voucher book is available for sale on ynottix.com. Each voucher book contains 25 tickets and is priced at $50, which is a 60 percent savings off the single-game ticket price. Vouchers are good for any regular season home game played at the Bud Metheny Baseball Stadium. Vouchers can be presented at the gate for admission. Single-game tickets can also be purchased for $5.
Click here to purchase the 2021-22 ODU voucher book.
The Extra Finnings Podcast
The Extra Finnings Podcast is back for the 2022 season, which features an in-depth look at the ODU baseball program. Catch the most recent episode of the Extra Finnings Podcast, here.
Baseball Hits Road for Showdown with No. 5 Virginia
