STATESBORO, Ga. – Strong pitching from Ben Moore and Ethan Hubbell and a five-run fourth inning helped Old Dominion baseball open its Sun Belt series at Georgia Southern with a 7-6 win on Friday night.
ODU led 7-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Down to their final three outs, the Eagles (20-14, 6-7 Sun Belt) clawed back to within a run as Nico Senese hit a two-out, two-run home run down the left-field line. Daniel Haab then popped up between the mound and first base, but Tahraun Hammond misplayed the ball allowing Haab to reach on the error. He broke for second though, and Hammond threw to Kyle Edwards in time to apply the tag and end the GS rally.
ODU’s offense showed up early, with the Monarchs (11-20, 6-7) grabbing a 1-0 lead in their first turn at the plate. TJ Aiken drew a one-out walk and advanced to third base as Zach Leite reached on an error. Efrain Morales then brought in Aiken with a two-out single through the left side.
Moore retired the Eagles in order in the bottom of the first. Then in the second, he allowed the first two batters to reach before recording three-straight strikeouts to get out of the jam. The hosts would jump ahead in the third inning though as Luke Odden hit a leadoff single to the gap in left and Josh Tate homered to right center.
The Monarchs came up with a quick counterpunch though, plating five runs on as many hits in the top of the fourth. Luke Waters started off the frame with a walk, then moved up to third on an Evan Holman double down the left-field line. The pair then raced home as Edwards singled to left center to put ODU back in front, 3-2.
ODU wasn’t done though. Following a base hit from Hammond, Aiken brought in Edwards with a double to left center. GS elected to intentionally walk Leite to set up a double-play opportunity, but Kainen Jorge smacked a 3-1 pitch to the outfield for another two runs and a 6-2 lead.
After five innings from Moore, Hubbell took over in the sixth. In his first inning of work, the junior struck out the first two batters he faced and then fielded a ground ball for the third out. He then struck out the side in the seventh.
Edwards singled to right field to lead off the eighth inning and then promptly stole second. After Hammond lined out to second, Aiken collected another RBI as he singled to right and Edwards beat the Eagles’ throw to the plate.
ODU brought in Frankie Wright with two outs and a runner on first in the bottom of the eighth. GS showed some life as Sean White singled through the left side and Jack Myers walked to load the bases. Jonathan Jaime then cut the Monarch lead to 7-4 with a two-RBI single to center field. The Monarchs then turned to Bailey Matela, who induced a foul ball that Holman was able to catch for the third out.
The Monarchs had a chance to respond in the top of the ninth, but could not capitalize. Morales singled to right field and was pinch run for by Scotty Young. Young stole second, Waters walked, and the pair moved up as Maverick Stallings laid down a sac bunt. However, a snap throw by the GS catcher picked off Young at third and Holman flew out to left.
Moore improves to 2-4 after holding Georgia Southern to two runs on three hits and two walks. He finished with five strikeouts in a five-inning start. Hubbell also struck out five in 2.2 innings in relief and surrendered one run on one hit without issuing any free passes. Matela earned his fourth save and was responsible for two runs on one hit.
Aiken (2-for-4) doubled, scored twice, drove in two runs and walked once. Jorge (2-for-5) also finished with two RBIs, Edwards (2-for-4) tallied two runs with two RBIs, and Morales (2-for-5) had ODU’s other multi-hit performance, adding one RBI to his totals.
The two teams will be back for Game Two in the series tomorrow with first pitch at J.I. Clements Stadium set for 2 p.m.
Postgame with Ben Moore pic.twitter.com/KO5IFMipyH
— Old Dominion Baseball (@ODUBaseball) April 12, 2025