NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion Baseball had the tying run at the plate with two on and no outs, but Manhattan turned a double play to hold on for a 10-7 final on Wednesday afternoon at the Ellmer Family Baseball Complex.
Trailing 10-6 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Will Johnson led off the frame with a solo home run to left field. Scotty Young was then hit by a pitch and TJ Aiken singled to right field, but the Jaspers (1-3) turned a 5-3 double play. Zach Leite then lined out to center field as the Monarchs (2-2) could not complete the rally.
“We got whipped with two outs today,” said ODU head coach Chris Finwood. “They had a bunch of runs with two outs, so I have to give them credit for that. It’s early and we have to make better swing decisions and be willing to take balls up and in off the plate. They certainly outplayed us today.”
ODU struck first with a run in the home half of the first inning. Johnson started things off with a double to right and advanced to third on an Efrain Morales ground out to short. Aiken then found a hole in the right side of the Manhattan defense as the Monarchs took a 1-0 lead.
Monarch starting pitcher Ethan Hubbell gave up leadoff doubles in the first two innings, but got out of trouble each time. The visitors were able to pull even, 1-1 in the third though. Jackson Brinker walked, stole second, and came home on a Vincent Samuel double to left field.
Old Dominion responded right back in the home half of the frame. Morales and Aiken hit back-to-back singles to get on. After Macaddin Dye popped out to second on an infield fly call, Zach Leite reached on a fielder’s choice. Manhattan elected to get Aiken at second, but a throwing error allowed ODU to load the bases with one away. Tyler Zedalis then brought everyone home with a grand slam to left and the Monarchs regained the lead, 5-1.
But the Jaspers countered with a big inning of their own in the fourth. Carson Vance homered to left center to make it 5-2, and Ryan Lordier singled up the middle and stole second and third before Brinker and Guriyandel Salva walked to load the bases. Samuel then hit one out of the yard for the second grand slam of the game and a 6-5 Manhattan lead. The guests plated another two runs as Justin Best singled and stole second, Andreaus Lewis drove him in with a double to left, and Lewis came around on a Colin Basehore base hit to right as the Jaspers went up, 8-5.
The Monarchs got a run back in the fifth inning. Aiken drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and moved up to third on a Leite ground out to first. Maverick Stallings also walked and baited the Manhattan catcher into a throw down to second, allowing Aiken to race home and cut the deficit to 8-6. The Jaspers had Stallings in a run down, but the senior infielder beat the throw to second and the stolen base stood upon review.
Manhattan tacked on another two runs in the ninth for a 10-6 lead. ODU reliever Ryan Sheehy struck out Trevor Hansen looking, but then walked Vance and allowed him to take second on a failed pickoff attempt. Sheehy also struck out Jeremy Sosa before ODU elected to intentionally walk Lordier. Following a successful double steal, Brinker collected two RBIs with a single to the gap in left.
Aiken went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs, one RBI, a walk and three stolen bases. Johnson finished 2-for-5 with his first home run as a Monarchs. The Allen, Texas native added a double and two runs to his final line. Zedalis contributed a 1-for-4 effort with the grand slam, his second long ball of the season.
Chris Cavalcante (0-1) took the loss after giving up five runs on three hits and two walks. He recorded one strikeout in 0.2 innings in relief. Hubbell tossed three complete innings, holding the Jaspers to one run on three hits and a walk while striking out three. Patrick Johnson threw three scoreless frames with four strikeouts and one walk in three innings out of the pen, and Sheehy was tagged for two unearned runs on one hit and two walks in one inning pitched.
“I though Patrick Johnson pitched well and gave us a chance to get back in the game. Two-out hitting was the difference in the game today. We will get back to work and get ready for Niagara on Friday.”
Up Next
Old Dominion will host Niagara for three games this weekend. The Monarchs and Purple Eagles will play at 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 1 p.m. on Sunday.