NORFOLK, Va. - Hunter Fitz-Gerald and Chris Dengler went 3-for-4 apiece with a run driven in as Old Dominion used a seven-run third inning to defeat Princeton 13-0 in a game stopped after seven innings due to the mercy rule at the Bud Metheny Complex on Tuesday.
"I thought Dylan threw the ball well for us. It was going be a short outing for him to get him back out there for Sunday and conference play. The relievers did a good job as well," said ODU Head Coach Chris Finwood. "We were able to take advantage of some walks, have some big innings early and expand the lead on a cold day. It was nice to only have to play seven innings. I was proud of how we came out and competed, especially off of two off days. Now we have to get ready and go tomorrow."
Old Dominion opened the scoring with a four-run second inning. Thomas Wheeler opened with a triple to left center and after one out Jay Tarkenton walked. He stole second and the errant throw moved him to third and scored Thomas Wheeler for a 1-0 lead. Dengler followed with an RBI single to plate Tarkenton. Following a groundout and a walk, Fitz-Gerald singled to load the bases as then Alex Bouche walked to score Dengler and Kenny Levari singled to left to score Cameron Grimes for a 4-0 advantage.
The Monarchs broke it open with seven runs in the third inning. Thomas Wheeler opened the inning with a single and stole second before Tyler Wheeler singled through the left side of the infield to score Thomas Wheeler. Tyler Wheeler stole second and scored on a RBI double from Tarkenton. A Dengler single moved Tarkenton to third who then scored on a fielder's choice groundout from Luke Waters. Grimes singled and moved up a base on a wild pitch before Fitz-Gerald singled in Waters.
After a strikeout, walks to Levari, Thomas and Tyler Wheeler along with Tarkenton brought in the final three runs of the inning for an 11-0 advantage.
ODU (14-2) added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth as Dengler started with a single and scored as Lincoln Ransom blasted a two-run shot over the wall in left-center.
Dylan Brown (2-0) took the win for Old Dominion throwing the first three innings with one hit allowed and striking out two. In total five Monarch pitchers combined for the four-hit shutout with Trent Buchanan, Bailey Matela, Joey DeChiaro and John Holobetz throwing an inning each.
Joining Fitz-Gerald and Dengler in the multi-hit group was also Thomas Wheeler going 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
The same teams will close out this brief two-game set on Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m.