Monarchs Stumble in Series Opener at Texas State
Old Dominion Baseball led 1-0 early, but Texas State used a seven-run bottom of the second inning to seize control as the Monarchs were handed an 18-4 setback on Friday night at Bobcat Ballpark.
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Old Dominion Baseball led 1-0 early, but Texas State used a seven-run bottom of the second inning to seize control as the Monarchs were handed an 18-4 setback on Friday night at Bobcat Ballpark.
For the second time this season, TJ Aiken led off a game with a solo home run. On Friday, the freshman out of Greenwood, South Carolina sent a 2-0 pitch down the left-field line to give ODU its only lead of the game.
TXST responded with seven runs on four hits in the bottom of the second. ODU starting pitcher Jay Cassady walked a pair and had a failed pickoff attempt as the Bobcats (23-24, 9-13 Sun Belt) looked to pull even with no outs and runners on the corners. Cassady gloved a failed bunt attempt that popped up, but Rashawn Galloway singled to right field to even the game at 1-1. Kameron Weil gave the hosts the lead with another RBI single to right, and Alec Patino made it 3-1 as he scored on a wild pitch. Ryne Farber drove in two more runs on a double to right, and a two-run homer by Aaron Lugo pushed the deficit to 7-1.
The Monarchs (24-20, 11-11) got back a run in the third as Kyle Edwards tripled to right center and raced home on a wild pitch. However, the Bobcats loaded the bases in their next turn at the plate and Cade Manning tagged up on a Weil sacrifice fly to left. ODU trimmed the TXST lead to 8-4 in the fourth as Maverick Stallings hit a two-out, two-run homer to left center, but that was all the offense the Monarchs come manufacture. The hosts plated two more runs in the fourth, three in the fifth and five in the sixth to put the game out of reach.
Cassady (0-3) took the loss after allowing six runs on three hits and as many walks. He struck out two and also hit one batter in a 1.2 inning start. The Monarchs used a total of six pitchers in the series opener, and the group combined to issue six walks while hitting four TXST batters. The 18 runs allowed marks a new season high.
Edwards finished 2-for-3 with a triple, a run scored, a walk and a stolen base. Levari also went 2-for-3 and came around once. Stallings batted 1-for-3 with a two-run homer, Jake Ticer contributed a 1-for-3 effort and Aiken went deep in a 1-for-4 night at the plate.
The two teams will now play a doubleheader on Saturday in an effort to avoid inclement weather expected in the area on Sunday. The first game of the twin bill will start at 3:30 p.m. ET, with the second game scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET.