NORFOLK, Va. – George Washington took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but a pair of three-run innings helped Old Dominion baseball wrap up its opening weekend with an 8-2 victory on Sunday afternoon at Bud Metheny Ballpark.
"It was good to get the season underway," said ODU head coach Chris Finwood. "The guys had good energy and competed well. Obviously lots to work on. We threw strikes and played good defense which is always good to see. Also ran the bases well. We have a lot of growth potential offensively and will keep working on our approaches with our new hitters in particular."
GW's Steve Ditomaso opened the scoring in the Revolutionaries' (0-3) first turn at the plate. After reaching on a single to short, he stole second, took third on a Robby Wacker hit to left and then came home on a wild pitch.
The Monarchs (3-0) responded with three runs in the fourth. Jack Speights drew a leadoff walk, Maverick Stallings then singled to left and the pair moved up on a wild pitch. A Steven Meier squeeze bunt scored Speights to knot the game at 1-1, and a Kyle Edwards sacrifice fly to right gave ODU the lead, 2-1. Meier proceeded to steal second, reached third on another wild pitch and then made it 3-1 thanks to Luke Waters' RBI single to short.
ODU pushed its lead to 6-1 with another three runs on as many hits in the sixth inning. Meier started off the frame with a single to second base, stole second, and took third as Evan Holman laid down a sac bunt. Edwards came through with another sac fly, Waters added a solo home run to left, and Gavin Abrams drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning.
The Revs got back a run in the top of the seventh as an Ellis Schwartz single up the middle scored Wacker from third. That was all of the offense GW could muster though as ODU answered with two more runs in the bottom of the inning. With Edwards and Holman on first and second, GW catcher Robbie Lavey attempted a snap throw to try and get Edwards returning to the bag. The throw got past first baseman Brett Young however and the error allowed Holman and Edwards to move up to second and third. Waters then connected on a 3-2 pitch, sending a line drive right back at GW pitcher Tyler Blankenship that hit off his shoulder and found its way into shallow right field. Both baserunners came home on the play to round out the scoring.
Waters finished the game 4-for-4 with the long ball, a stolen base and four RBIs. Meier went 2-for-4, scored two runs, drove in another and also swiped two bases. Stallings had the other multi-hit performance on the day, batting 2-for-5 with one run, and Edwards (1-for-3) collected two RBIs and added a run to his totals.
Kellen Davis secured his first win of the season after striking out the side in the fifth inning. Starter Trent Buchanan tossed four complete innings and held the Revs to one run on three hits and a walk while striking out three. Brandon Pond, a transfer from the University of Lynchburg, tallied four strikeouts in two innings of work.
ODU's first midweek game of the season will see the Monarchs heading to Charlottesville on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. meeting with No. 14 Virginia. It will be the first of three games against the Cavaliers in 2024 and the first of two at Davenport Field at Disharoon Park.
Monarchs Complete Series Sweep of the Revolutionaries
