CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Old Dominion baseball scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning, but it wasn’t enough as the Monarchs fell 11-5 at Virginia on Tuesday night at Davenport Field at Disharoon Park.
UVA scored in each of the first five innings, putting up crooked numbers in the second, fourth and fifth innings to build a 10-1 lead.
The Cavaliers (16-11) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as Aidan Teel walked and later scored on a Chris Arroyo sacrifice fly to center field. The hosts then tacked on another three runs on two hits in the second. With two outs and runners on first and second, Teel earned another RBI with a base hit to center field. Eric Becker then singled in another run and Teel came home on a wild pitch for the 4-0 lead.
Virginia went up 5-0 in the third as Arroyo drew a leadoff walk, moved up to second as Henry Godbout was hit by a pitch, and scored on a fielding error by Maverick Stallings.
The Monarchs (8-18) finally broke through in the top of the fourth when Zach Leite poked a ball through the left side of the defense, took second on a passed ball, and raced home on a Kainen Jorge standup double to right center field.
UVA responded with another two runs in the home half of the inning though. Becker singled through the left side, moved up on a passed ball, and crossed the plate on a Henry Ford base hit to the gap in left. Later in the inning, a wild pitch moved runners into scoring position with one away and ODU conceded a run on a Trey Wells ground out to short.
Stallings and Jack Slater drew a couple of walks to start the fifth, but the Cavs turned a 6-4-5 double play as Becker dove and knocked down a line drive by Kyle Edwards, flipped to Godbout for the force out at second, who then fired to Luke Hanson to get Stallings at third.
Virginia went up 10-1 in the fifth. Teel hit a two-run home run to the Cavalier bullpen in right field, and Wells drove in another run with a bases-loaded infield hit to second.
ODU loaded the bases with one out in the seventh after a couple of singles by Evan Holman and Edwards and a walk by TJ Aiken. After Tanner Schaedel went down swinging, Leite drew a bases-loaded walk and Jorge singled through the left side to cut the deficit to 10-3. UVA brought in a new pitcher, and Ryan Thomas and Tahraun Hammond both walked to trim the Cavalier lead to 10-5.
UVA got a run back in the eighth as James Nunnallee walked, stole second, took third on a ground out to second, and scored on a Teel single through the right side. ODU loaded the bases in the ninth as Leite singled before Thomas and Hammond both walked. However, Tyler Zedalis flew out to center field for the final out.
ODU starter Jayce Park (0-3) took the loss after allowing four runs on two hits and three walks in 1.2 innings pitched. Leite (2-for-4) scored twice, drove in a run, and added a walk. Jorge (2-for-5) doubled and collected two RBIs with one base on balls, Luke Waters finished 1-for-2 and was hit by a pitch, and Holman also went 1-for-2 with a run.
The Monarchs will be back in Norfolk this weekend when they host Troy for a Sun Belt series at Harbor Park. Friday’s series opener is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start. The teams will then play again at 3 p.m. on Saturday and at 1 p.m. on Sunday.