Old Dominion (2-1) vs. VMI (1-2)
Old Dominion (2-1) at William & Mary (1-2)
Game Location – Bud Metheny Ballpark (Norfolk, Va.)
Plumeri Park (Williamsburg, Va.)
Game 1 – Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m.
Game 2 – Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m.
Watch ($) – Game 2
Live Stats – Game 1 | Game 2
NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion baseball is back at The Bud this Tuesday as the Monarchs host VMI for a 3 p.m. game. ODU then hits the road for the first time this season for a 3 p.m. game at William & Mary on Wednesday.
Live stats will be available for both games, and Wednesday's meeting with the Tribe will be streamed on FloSports.
Around the Horn
After dropping its season opener to St. John's 7-6 in extra innings last Friday, the Monarchs (2-1) bounced back with a 7-5 victory on Saturday. That set up a Sunday rubber match, and a three-homer day by Jake Ticer helped ODU win the series with a 10-5 final. That outing led to the JUCO transfer being named a National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball earlier Monday.
Ticer went 5-for-8 for the first weekend of the season and leads ODU with a .625 average. Following him are Robbie O'Neal (.375) and Kyle Edwards (.333), who both doubled and drove in a pair of runs. Kenny Levari (.231) and Thomas Wheeler (.154) also homered. On the basepaths, Edwards and Camden Grimes both stole two bags in as many attempts and Wheeler was 1-for-1. As a team, the Monarchs are batting .262 with a .456 slugging percentage and .379 on-base percentage.
On the mound, Blake Morgan fanned seven with four unearned runs through 4.2 innings in a no decision on Friday. Sam Armstrong went 4.1 innings on Saturday, allowing three runs with three strikeouts. Ben Moore (1-0) picked up the win after holding the Red Storm to one unearned run in 1.2 innings in relief, and Robert Cook grabbed the save after recording five strikeouts with one unearned run through 3.0 innings of work. Dylan Brown got the start on Sunday and limited SJU to two runs, one earned. He tallied struck out a pair over 3.2 innings. Bailey Matela (1-0) received the win on Sunday after 1.1 innings out of the pen. He did not allow a run or a hit and walked three. Through three games, ODU's arms own a combined 2.89 ERA, good for third in the Sun Belt.
Scouting VMI
The Keydets (1-2) dropped their first series two games to one at Mississippi State. After an 11-2 loss on Friday, VMI rallied from a 10-1 deficit on Saturday to beat the host Bulldogs 14-13 and even the series. However, the team fell short 9-3 in the final game on Sunday. VMI has four batters hitting over .300: Grayson Fitzwater leads the way with a .556 clip, Garret Cole is next at .364, Ty Swaim is batting .333 and Justin Starke comes into Tuesday's game with a .308 average. Swaim hit the lone long ball for the Keydets and has scored a team-high seven runs. The team drew 19 walks through their first three games and are a big threat to steal, having swiped 14 bags on 15 attempts in Starksville, Mississippi. VMI is batting .233 as a team with a .311 slugging percentage and .357 on-base percentage.
VMI used a total of 16 pitchers throughout the series, and the group combined for just nine strikeouts compared to Mississippi State's 36. The team also issued 21 walks and allowed the Bulldogs to hit .371 against them.
The Keydets were picked to finish seventh in the SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll and eighth in the league's Preseason Media Poll. Designated hitter Brett Cook was named to the Preseason All-SoCon First Team while shortstop Zac Morris and third baseman Starke landed on the Second Team.
Scouting William & Mary
The Tribe (1-2) traveled to Macon, Georgia and lost their series to Mercer. W&M lost the first and third games by a run, 9-8 and 5-4. The team picked up its first win of the season on Saturday, a 6-2 final at OrthoGeorgia Park. Tied at 2-2 through six innings, the Tribe plated two runs in seventh and another two in the ninth.
Ben Williamson and Nick Lottchea are both hitting .417 to lead W&M at the plate, and Noah Zertuche follows with a .375 average. Cole Ragone (.154) owns both of the team's long balls, and Lucas Carmichael (.200) doubled for the Tribe's only other extra-base hit. W&M is batting .250 as a team with a .346 slugging percentage and a .355 on-base percentage.
The Tribe's pitchers own a combined 3.76 ERA with a .233 batting average against them. Cory Wall (1-0) and Rojo Prairie (0-0) both have six strikeouts to lead the team, and Owen Pierce (0-0) is next with five.
W&M was picked to finish fifth in the CAA Preseason Coaches Poll with Williamson, Joe Delossantos and Carter Lovasz named to the Preseason All-CAA Team.
Prior to its game against the Monarchs, the Tribe will host Richmond for a 3 p.m. game on Tuesday.
The Series
ODU won both of its games against VMI last season, taking a March 22 game at home 6-2 before defeating the Keydets 8-6 on May 17 in Lexington. The Monarchs hold a 45-8 lead in the all-time series.
ODU also played a home-and-home series against W&M in 2022, with both teams winning on the road. The Monarchs topped the Tribe 5-1 in Williamsburg on April 19, but were handed a 5-0 setback on May 11 in Norfolk. ODU leads the all-time series, 86-55.
What's Next
ODU will host Fordham for three games this weekend. Friday's series opener is set for a 3 p.m. start. The two teams will then play again at 2 p.m. on Saturday before wrapping up with a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday.
Voucher Books!
The 2022-23 Old Dominion voucher book is available for sale on ynottix.com. For the cost of $50, you get 25 tickets that can be presented at the gate for admission to any regular season home game at Bud Metheny Ballpark. Single-game tickets can also be purchased for $5.
Click here to purchase the 2022-23 ODU voucher book.
Monarchs at Home Against VMI Tuesday, Travel to William & Mary Wednesday
