It was a tale of two games at the Bud on Tuesday afternoon. For three innings, the Monarchs looked like they were in total control, jumping out to a 3-0 lead. But the wheels came off in the middle frames, and the Tribe capitalized on every mistake to hand ODU a frustrating 6-3 midweek loss.
The defeat drops Old Dominion to 11-12 on the season, marking a three-game skid as the team struggles to find consistency in tight matchups.
Game Recap: A 3-0 Start Goes Cold
ODU applied the pressure early at the Ellmer Complex. TJ Aiken and Efrain Morales set the table in the first with back-to-back singles, and Zach Leite cleared the bases with a clutch double down the right-field line to make it 2-0. By the third, the Monarchs extended the lead to 3-0 after Scotty Young drove in Maverick Stallings with another single to right.
However, the momentum shifted in the fourth. Nick Sulpizio ran into trouble, and the Tribe wasted no time responding. After a bases-loaded walk cut the lead to 3-1, Jett Humphreys delivered a two-RBI single to tie the game at 3-3.
The Monarchs had their chances to retake the lead, notably loading the bases in the fifth, but couldn't find the big hit. W&M eventually took a 4-3 lead in the sixth and added two insurance runs in the eighth—one on a costly ODU throwing error during a bunt play.
Top Performers & Stat Leaders
| Player | Game Highlights | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|
| Zach Leite | Continued his RBI tear with a first-inning double. | 2-for-5, 2 RBI |
| Will Johnson | A perfect day at the plate and a menace on the paths. | 2-for-2, 1 BB, 2 SB |
| Scotty Young | Provided the third ODU run and a successful sac bunt. | 1-for-3, 1 RBI |
| Efrain Morales | Reached base three times to set the early tone. | 1-for-3, 2 BB, 1 Run |
Interesting Game Stats
- ■ Elite Run Producer: Zach Leite's two-RBI day was his 10th multi-RBI game of the season. He entered the week ranked 9th nationally in RBIs per game (1.64).
- ■ Free Passes: ODU hitters showed great discipline, drawing 5 walks and being hit by pitches 3 times, but they left 12 runners stranded on base.
- ■ Bullpen Battle: Patrick Johnson took the loss, while the Tribe's Jett Humphreys proved to be the difference-maker, driving in half of W&M's runs.
- ■ Speed on the Bases: Will Johnson recorded 2 stolen bases, part of a Monarch effort that saw aggressive running early on.
What’s Next?
The Monarchs (11-12) have a quick turnaround as they travel to Richmond tomorrow, Wednesday, March 25, for a 2:00 PM EDT first pitch against the Spiders. ODU will look to snap the streak before a weekend conference set at South Alabama.
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