NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion Baseball came from behind in both games of Saturday’s doubleheader to complete the series sweep of Niagara University. ODU started off the afternoon with an 8-5 victory, then fought back for a 5-4 win in the night cap.
“Two good ball games today. Although we have a long way to go, we battled back in both to find a way to win. I was proud of resilience in both wins. JJ Gatti gave us a good start in Game One,” said ODU head coach Chris Finwood.
ODU improves to 5-2 on the season.
Game One
The first game saw ODU plate a run in the bottom of the third inning as Cash Jay was hit by a pitch, stole second and third, and then came home on a Will Johnson sacrifice fly to left field. The Monarchs plated another run in the fourth when Zach Leite hit a leadoff single through the left side, advanced to second on a ground out, and scored thanks to an error by the Niagara shortstop.
The Purple Eagles (0-6) jumped ahead with four runs on three hits and an error in the top of the seventh. With one out and runners on the corners, Noah Konings singled to second base as the lead runner scored. Rees Kozar then drove in two runs with a 2-RBI double and would later score on a wild pitch to put the visitors up, 4-2.
ODU got a run back as Will Johnson led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to left field. Then in the eighth, the Monarchs erupted for five runs to seize back the lead, 8-4. The Purple Eagles committed back-to-back errors to start the frame as Scotty Young reached on an error by the Niagara second baseman before Jay laid down a bunt and reached on an error by the first baseman. With runners on the corners, Nick Felton also went to bunt and the pitcher unsuccessfully attempted to get Young out at the plate. Jack Slater singled to load the bases, TJ Aiken doubled in two runs, and Slater and Aiken both raced home on a Leite base hit to right field.
The Monarchs then brought in Bailey Matela, who proceeded to retire the first two batters he faced. However, he hit the next batter, gave up a single to center field, and issued a walk to run the bags full. Niagara’s Jacob Brooks took advantage with an RBI single to center field, but Matela struck out Nate Milk to end the game.
Slater finished 3-for-5 with a run scored, Aiken went 2-for-5 with a double, a run, and two RBIs, and Leite also hit 2-for-5 with a run and two RBIs. Johnson (1-for-4) hit his second home run of the season and drove in two runs, and Jay contributed a 1-for-2 outing with two runs and three stolen bases.
Connor Schumann (1-0) picked up his first win after holding the Purple Eagles to one hit in 1.1 innings in relief. He faced five batters and did not issue a walk. Starter JJ Gatti threw 5.2 innings of shutout ball, allowing four hits and one walk while fanning three and plunking one.
Game Two
Niagara broke through with a four-run top of the fourth inning. With one out and the bases loaded, Shawn Cameron was hit by a pitch for a free RBI. ODU’s Owen Yarussi then relieved starter Jackson Okonkwo, but proceeded to walk Tyler ViVacqua for another run and gave up a two-RBI single to Konings as the Purple Eagles built a 4-0 lead.
Old Dominion wouldn’t come up with a response until the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and the bases loaded, Grayson Sparr pinch hit for Young and walked to cut into the visitor lead, 4-1. Later in the seventh inning, Brody Connors was hit by a pitch and C McKenna singled through the left side. Slater then laid down a bunt, and an error by the Niagara catcher allowed Connors to score. Aiken followed with an RBI single to center field before Leite wore a pitch to reload the bases. Maverick Stallings tied the game with an RBI single to center field and Tyler Zedalis gave ODU its first lead, 5-4 with a sac fly to center.
Cole Lanford retired the side in order in the eighth inning. The Purple Eagles loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, leading ODU to bring in Charlie Pearce. The freshman right-hander answered the call, striking out Niagara’s Carmen Panaro then getting Cameron to fly out to center field for the final out.
Aiken hit 2-for-3 with one run, one RBI, and one walk, Zedalis also went 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Stallings had a 2-for-4 outing with one RBI.
Lanford (1-0) got the win after tossing 2.1 scoreless frames. He held Niagara to two hits and one walk while recording one strikeout. Pearce earned his first career save with one strikeout in 0.2 innings out of the pen. Okonkwo was tagged for four runs on six hits and two walks in a 3.1-inning start. The Virginia Beach native racked up four strikeouts in the no decision.
“We threw so many freshmen in Game Two and it was fun to see them grow up some out there,” continued Finwood. “All of them did a good job and Okonkwo, Lanford and Pearce in particular. We weren’t doing much in the second game and I thought the guys that came off the bench really gave us some energy when we needed it most.”
Up Next
ODU will play at cross-town rival Norfolk State next Wednesday, Feb. 25. First pitch at Marty L. Miller Field is scheduled for 3 p.m.