Old Dominion (12-12) snapped a three-game skid and moved back to .500 on Wednesday afternoon, riding a late-inning offensive explosion to a 7-2 victory over the Richmond Spiders at Pitt Field. In a game that saw the Monarchs surrender an early lead, ODU’s resilience shone through as they plated five unanswered runs over the final three frames to secure the midweek win.
Game Recap: A Battle at Pitt Field
The Monarchs wasted no time establishing a presence in Richmond. In the top of the second, Maverick Stallings launched a towering two-run home run to deep right field, scoring Tyler Zedalis and giving ODU an early 2-0 cushion.
On the mound, Ethan Hubbell provided a strong start, holding the Spiders hitless through three scoreless innings. However, Richmond clawed back into the game as ODU turned to the bullpen. The Spiders capitalized on a Monarch error in the fifth to pull within one and used a sacrifice fly in the sixth to knot the score at 2-2.
The Late Inning Breakout
Faced with a tied game and mounting pressure, the ODU offense found its second wind. In the seventh, Zach Leite delivered the go-ahead RBI single to right field, scoring Evan Holman to reclaim a 3-2 lead. The Monarchs added an insurance run in the eighth when Efrain Morales came through with a clutch RBI single to score Stallings.
The knockout blow came in the ninth. After Nick Felton drove in a run with a single to left, Evan Holman cleared the bases with a massive two-RBI double down the left-field line, extending the lead to 7-2. Bailey Matela shut the door in the bottom half to earn his first save of the season.
Top Performers & Stat Leaders
| Player | Game Highlights | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|
| Maverick Stallings | Provided the early power with a 2-run blast. | 1-for-4, HR, 3 Runs, 2 RBI |
| Evan Holman | Delivered the decisive 9th-inning insurance. | 2-for-2, 2B, 1 Run, 2 RBI |
| Tyler Zedalis | Constant threat in the middle of the order. | 2-for-5, 2B, 1 Run |
| Zach Leite | Came through with the go-ahead RBI in the 7th. | 1-for-3, RBI, 1 Run |
| Chris Cavalcante | Earned the win with steady relief work. | 1.0 IP, 1-1 Record |
Interesting Game Stats
- ■ Road Warrior Mentality: With this victory, ODU moved to a 4-3 record in true road games this season.
- ■ Shutout Start: Ethan Hubbell’s three hitless innings marked a strong start for the Monarch staff, which combined to allow only four hits on the day.
- ■ Clutch Hitting: The Monarchs went 5-for-11 with runners in scoring position, a significant improvement from the previous weekend series.
- ■ Power Surge: Maverick Stallings’ second-inning home run was his team-leading fifth of the 2026 campaign.
What’s Next?
The Monarchs (12-12) head further south for a critical Sun Belt Conference road test against South Alabama. The three-game series kicks off in Mobile this Friday, March 27, with a 7:30 PM EDT first pitch.
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