NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion Baseball could not complete the Sun Belt series sweep of Georgia Southern as the Monarchs dropped a close game 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Bud Metheny Ballpark.
"It was a really good college baseball game. Their starting pitcher pitched great and we just couldn't get that one big hit," said ODU Head Coach Chris Finwood.
ODU opened the scoring in the bottom of the second. Alex Bouche drew a one-out walk, but was erased at second as Kenny Levari reached on a fielder's choice. After Levari took second on a wild pitch, Jake Ticer hit a weak ground ball into the shift that the GS second baseman misplayed, the error allowing Levari to race home and give the Monarchs (12-8, 2-1 Sun Belt) a 1-0 lead.
The Eagles (9-10, 1-2) then took over in the top of the fourth as Sam Blancato walked and two batters later Kent Schmidt hit a two-run home run to right. That would be the difference as neither side manufactured any more offense the rest of the way.
ODU had an opportunity to respond in the home half of the fourth as Evan Holman and Bouche hit a pair of one-out singles, but Levari was out on an infield fly to the GS third baseman and Ticer grounded out to short. Later in the seventh, Maverick Stallings doubled to the wall in right center, but with two outs Rowan Masse lined out to short.
Trent Buchanan (1-1) took the loss after allowing two runs on as many hits and a walk. He finished with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched. Starter Ben Moore tossed three scoreless frames, scattering two hits with two strikeouts and on hit batter. Bailey Matela and Jacob Gomez also came out of the pen.
ODU was held to just four hits in the game. Stallings led the Monarchs with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate. Also collecting hits were Bouche (1-for-3) and Holman (1-for-4).
"I thought we pitched well all weekend and was really proud of our effort on the mound," added Finwood. "We hit a couple balls hard, they just didn't fall for us today and you just get beat in baseball. I told our guys I was proud of how we competed all weekend."
The team wraps up its 17-game homestand this Tuesday when the Monarchs host the Richmond Spiders for a 6 p.m. game at The Bud.
Baseball Drops Series Finale to the Eagles, 2-1
