MOBILE, Ala. – Old Dominion baseball could not solve South Alabama pitcher Daniel Gonzalez as the Monarchs dropped the Sun Belt series rubber match, 12-1 in seven innings on Sunday.
ODU had an opportunity to manufacture a run in the top of the first as Scotty Young singled to third with one out and moved up to second as Zach Leite walked. The Monarchs (13-14, 3-6 Sun Belt) tried to pull off a double steal, but Leite was caught in a rundown and Young reached third. Tyler Zedalis then went down swinging as Young was left stranded. In the home half of the inning, the Monarchs turned a 4-6-3 double play to keep South Alabama off the board.
Old Dominion had another runner in scoring position in the second as Maverick Stallings hit a one-out single through the left side and stole second. However, Grayson Sparr popped up to short and Will Johnson grounded out to short.
The Jaguars (18-10, 5-4) opened the scoring with four runs on six hits in the bottom of the second inning. USA’s Blake Guerin led off the frame with a single to left field and advanced to third base on a Nate Wood double to left. Mike Young plated the pair with a hit to right center, but was out at second trying to stretch for a double. Rett Johnson then singled up the middle before Ethan Melton doubled to left. Johnson came home when Brennon Wright grounded out to first, and Melton made it a 4-0 South Alabama lead as he scored on a Duncan Matthews double to right.
In the third inning, Guerin pushed the deficit to 5-0 with a one-out home run over the scoreboard in left field. ODU then broke up the shutout in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Johnson skied a ball down the line that fell just in front of USA right fielder Mike Young. Cash Jay then drove a 2-2 offering to the gap in right to get the Monarchs on the scoreboard, 5-1.
USA countered with a three-spot in the bottom of the inning. Marc Stephens singled to center field, Guerin singled to left, and Stephens scored on a Wood double to left center. Guerin the crossed the plate on a Mike Young sacrifice fly to left, and Wood pushed the score to 8-1 when he ran home on a Johnson base hit to center field.
The Jaguars tacked on another four runs in the sixth. Matthews drew a one-out walk but was erased as Stephens reached on a fielder’s choice. He moved up on a wild pitch before Stewart Puckett hit a two-run homer to left field. Guerin then homered for the second time to push the Jaguar lead to 11-1. After Wood singled and Mike Young walked, Wood scored from second on a Johnson single through the right side.
Macaddin Dye, Stallings, and Bennett Siegel then went down in order in the seventh to bring the game to a close.
Nick Sulpizio (1-1) took the loss after giving up four runs on six hits and one walk. He recorded one strikeout in a 1.2-inning start. Maddox Jack, Bailey Matela, Kellen Davis, and Chris Cavalcante also came out of the pen.
Jay (1-for-2) doubled and drove in ODU’s lone run. Johnson finished 1-for-2 with a run scored, and Scotty Young and Stallings both went 1-for-3.
Up Next
Old Dominion will make the drive to Charlottesville, Virginia this Tuesday for a 6 p.m. meeting with No. 9 Virginia.