Old Dominion (0-0) vs. George Washington (0-0)
Game Location – Bud Metheny Ballpark (Norfolk, Va.)
Game 1 – Friday, Feb. 16 at 3 p.m.
Game 2 – Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m.
Game 3 – Sunday, Feb. 18 at 1 p.m.
Watch – ESPN+ (Game 1 | Game 3)
Live Stats – Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
NORFOLK, Va. – ODU Baseball is back! The Monarchs begin their 2024 campaign this weekend as they host George Washington for three games at Bud Metheny Ballpark. Friday's season opener is schedule for a 3 p.m. start, Saturday will begin at 2 p.m., and Sunday is slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
Fans can watch Friday's game and Sunday's series finale on ESPN+ with Ted Alexander calling the balls and strikes, and live stats for the entire series will also be available.
Around the Horn
The Monarchs finished the 2023 season with a 32-23 overall record and a 15-15 mark in league play and entered the Sun Belt Championship as the No. 10 seed. Hunter Fitz-Gerald and Sam Armstrong were named to the All-Conference First and Second Teams, respectively, and Ben Moore was named a Second Team Freshman All-American by Perfect Game. Additionally, Armstrong was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 13th round of the MLB Draft and Fitz-Gerald signed as an undrafted free agent with the Seattle Mariners. ODU also became the first NCAA Division I program to hit 100 home runs in a season in three straight years since the start of the BBCOR era in 2011. The 2024 season will mark the 21st overall for Head Coach Chris Finwood and his 13th leading the Monarchs.
ODU received 115 points and was picked to finish sixth in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches' Poll. This year's roster includes 21 returners and 22 newcomers. Some key position players back for ODU include infielders Kyle Edwards, Kenny Levari, Alex Bouche and Jake Ticer and outfielder Luke Waters. The Monarchs also bring back 13 pitchers from last season with John Holobetz, Dylan Brown and Trent Buchanan expected to start this weekend.
The 2024 D1Baseball Preseason Player Rankings, which represent the top 15 percent of NCAA Division I starters at each position, included Bouche at third base and Holobetz as a starting pitcher. The Sun Belt boasted the No. 5 conference RPI in the nation in 2023, trailing only the SEC, ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12. ODU finished the 2023 season in the Top 100 in the RPI, coming in at No. 91. The conference has been a multi-bid league in 28-of-34 seasons since 1989 and has earned 21 NCAA berths over the last 10 seasons.
This will be ODU's second year back in the Sun Belt after previously being a member of the league from 1983-1991. During that nine-year span, the Monarchs won three regular-season titles, reached the Sun Belt Championship twice and won the conference tournament in 1985. ODU went 328-175-1 overall and 91-64 against Sun Belt opponents in its first stint in the conference.
Scouting George Washington
The Revolutionaries went 21-34 overall and 11-12 in the A-10 last year and were picked to finish ninth in this season's A10 Preseason Coaches' Poll. GW has 17 returners on its roster and 19 newcomers. Steve DiTomaso and Sam Gates are the top two returning hitters, batting .322 and .280 respectively last season. On the mound, the Revs also bring back Teddy Brennan and reliever Michael Foltz, who led the team with three saves in 2023, who will transition to a starting role. GW's expected rotation for this weekend will see Foltz on Friday, Graham Jeffries on Saturday, and Brennan on Sunday.
Head Coach Gregg Ritchie is entering his 12th season leading the program and has compiled a 272-284 record in his time at GW.
The Series
ODU and GW are meeting on the diamond for the first time since the two programs played a home-and-home series in 2005, with both games going to the Revolutionaries 6-3 in Norfolk on Feb. 22 and 6-4 in Washington, D.C. on April 20. Despite the two losses, ODU holds a commanding 22-5 lead in the all-time series.
Up Next
ODU has its first of three midweek games against Virginia next Tuesday, Feb. 20 in Charlottesville. First pitch from Davenport Field at Disharoon Park is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Voucher Books!
The 2024 Old Dominion Baseball voucher book is available for sale online at odusports.com/tickets. For just $50, fans get 25 tickets that can be used for any regular season home game played at the Bud Metheny Baseball Stadium. Single-game tickets can also be purchased for $5.
Click here to purchase the 2024 ODU Baseball voucher book.
Commonwealth Classic
The Monarchs will host Virginia in the Commonwealth Classic, scheduled for Tuesday, April 16 at Harbor Park beginning at 6 p.m. General admission tickets are on sale now at $10 each and can be purchased here.
ODU Baseball Set to Open 2024 Season Against George Washington
