NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion Baseball and Quinnipiac split their Saturday doubleheader as the Monarchs won the first game, 15-5 before falling to the Bobcats in extra innings, 6-5 in the second game.
Old Dominion starts off the 2026 season 2-1 while Quinnipiac drops to 1-2. The Monarchs have won their season opening series in six of the last seven seasons.
Game One
The first game of the twin bill started off with Quinnipiac’s leadoff batter, Cole Constable getting hit in the head. He had to leave the game and was pinch ran for by Chase Camac, who proceeded to steal second and move up to third on an Alex Irizarry ground out to second. The Bobcats then took the early 1-0 lead when Irizarry came home on a Christian Smith base hit to center field.
ODU responded in its first turn at the plate. Will Johnson led off with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error by the QU shortstop. Efrain Morales then reached first on another throwing error, this time by the third baseman. After Johnson moved up to third on a TJ Aiken fly out to right, Johnson knotted the game at 1-1 on a Maccadin Dye high chopper that the Bobcat third baseman couldn’t backhand.
The Monarchs pulled ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the second on a leadoff solo home run from Tyler Zedalis. Old Dominion then pulled away, 6-1 with four runs in the third inning. Morales singled through the left side, took second on a failed pickoff attempt, and scored on a Dye single through the left side of the Bobcat defense. Maverick Stallings, Zedalis, and Scotty Young then strung together three straight doubles.
ODU put the game out of reach with another seven runs on two hits in the home half of the fifth inning. With one out and the bases loaded, Cash Jay doubled in a pair of runs. Johnson drew a walk to reload the bases, and Morales and Aiken also walked for a couple of free RBIs. Zach Leite continued the damage with a double to left center, pushing the lead to 13-1.
Quinnipiac got a run back in the sixth, but Jay scored from first on a two-out Johnson double to right center. Nick Felton then singled to first, and a throwing error by the first baseman allowed Johnson to cross the plate for a 15-2 lead. The Bobcats plated three runs in the top of the seventh, but the Monarchs recorded the third out to grab the run-rule victory.
Four Monarchs turned in multi-hit efforts. Johnson (2-for-3) doubled, drew a walk, drove in a run and scored three more. Dye (2-for-4) doubled twice and finished with two RBIs and a run, Zedalis (2-for-4) homered, hit a double, and added two RBIs and three runs to his totals. Jay (2-for-4) also hit a double with two runs and two RBIs. Jayce Park (1-0) picked up the win with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings in relief.
Game Two
The Bobcats broke through in the top of the second of Game Two. Kyle Garbowski led off the inning with a triple to right field and tagged up on a Jack Balcer sacrifice fly to right. The visitors then went up 2-0 in the third when Caden Williamson singled, advanced on a Peyton Vancas sac bunt, took third on a Matt Park base hit, and scored on an Irizarry single through the left side.
The Monarchs jumped ahead, 3-2 in the bottom of the third. With two outs and the bases loaded, Leite singled to third base, bringing home Johnson. Stallings followed with a 2-RBI single to left. ODU then went up 5-2 in the fourth as Holman scored on an Aiken sac fly to right field and Johnson raced home on a wild pitch.
QU narrowed the gap, 5-4 with two runs in the sixth. With one out and runners on the corners, Jack Balcer drove in Irizarry with a single to center field. Camac followed with a hit through the left side, plating Garbowski. The guests would pull even in the seventh when Irizarry hit a fly ball to shallow left field. Aiken was able to position himself to make the catch, but misplayed the ball and the error allowed Vancas to knot the game at 5-5.
Later in the 10th, Matt Park singled through the right side but was retired when Irizarry reached on a fielder’s choice. Smith was hit by a pitch and the two baserunners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch by Charlie Pearce. A Garbowksi fly ball to deep right was enough for Irizarry to tag up on. ODU had the tying run in scoring position as Stallings singled to right and reached second on a Felton sac bunt, but Jay went down swinging and Holman flew out to right to end the game.
Young finished 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Leite also went 3-for-4 with one RBI and a walk, and Stallings hit 2-for-4 and drove in two runs. Pearce (0-1) took the loss after allowing the deciding run in 0.2 innings pitched.
Up Next
The Monarchs will be back on the diamond this Wednesday when they host Manhattan for a 2 p.m. midweek game.