NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion baseball could not produce runs against the Troy starting pitcher Garrett Gainous on Friday night. The Monarchs fell to the Trojans in the series opener 7-0 at Harbor Park.
The Monarchs fell to 8-19 overall and 4-6 in Sun Belt standings.
In the top of the third with one out, Harrison Bowmen was hit by pitch for the Trojans. Bryan hit an opposite field line-drive into shallow left to get a single and move Bowmen to third. Edwards fielded a ground ball by Darnell but could only make the throw to second, allowing Bowmen to put the first run of the game on the board for Troy.
Jakob Wax became the third Trojan to be hit by Moore. Bland fought back from an 0-2 count for a double to put runners on second and third. Steven Meier hit a ground ball to first which Leite handled but overthrew home, allowing both Schrader and Wax to score as Meier got to second and put the Trojans on top 3-0. Bowman hit a line drive into shallow center to score Meier for a 4-0 Troy lead.
In the Eighth, Blake Cavill hit his third home run of the season to bring the score to 6-0.
The Monarchs’ best scoring opportunity came in the eighth inning. Tahraun Hammond led off the inning with a single and Zach Leite followed with a one-out single. But Kainen Jorge popped up and Luke Waters flew out to the warning track in left center to end the threat.
To lead off the ninth, Darnell looped a hit into right-center for a single. After Gavin Schrader drew a walk, Jakob Wax, into a fielder’s choice, allowing Darnell to score from second and give the Trojans a 7-0 lead.
Hammond had two of ODU’s four hits on the night to lead the offense.
Ben Moore suffered the defeat, allowed four runs, one earned, in four innings.
ODU and Troy are back at Harbor Park on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.