Old Dominion baseball (10-9) returned to the winning track in emphatic fashion on Wednesday afternoon, dismantling Norfolk State 16-4 in a seven-inning run-rule victory at the Ellmer Family Baseball Complex. The Monarchs’ offense exploded for a season-high 16 runs, completing a home-and-home series sweep of their cross-town rivals and providing a much-needed spark before returning to conference play.
Head coach Chris Finwood praised the team's early execution:
"I thought Nick Sulpizio did a good job on the mound for us and filled up the strike zone... We took advantage of a couple of miscues on their part and got a few big hits early to break the game open."
Game Recap: A Three-Inning Avalanche
The contest was effectively decided before the Spartans could record nine outs. ODU attacked early and often, plating 14 runs over the first three innings.
1st Inning Capitalizing on three Norfolk State errors, the Monarchs pushed across four unearned runs. Will Johnson scored the first run after a Spartan fielding error in right field, while Maverick Stallings and Cash Jay contributed RBIs via a walk and a sacrifice fly, respectively.
2nd Inning The lead swelled to 10-0 as the bats found their rhythm. Zach Leite ignited the frame with an RBI single, followed by a Macaddin Dye HBP that forced in a run. The knockout blow came from Grayson Sparr, who cleared the bases with a clutch three-RBI double down the left-field line.
3rd Inning ODU added four more for a 14-0 cushion. Brody Connors delivered a two-RBI single to left-center, and Sparr added another RBI with a deep sacrifice fly.
Norfolk State managed to scrape together four late runs, but the early deficit proved insurmountable. Junior starter Nick Sulpizio earned his first win of the year (1-0), tossing four shutout innings and allowing only two hits while fanning four.
Top Performers & Series Leaders
| Player | Game Highlights | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|
| Will Johnson | The offensive catalyst; constant threat on the bases. | 3-for-5, 4 Runs, 1 SB |
| Grayson Sparr | Delivered the weekend's biggest hit with his bases-clearing double. | 1-for-2, 2B, 4 RBI, 1 SF |
| Zach Leite | Continued his consistent production in the middle of the order. | 2-for-4, 3 Runs, 1 RBI |
| Nick Sulpizio | Dominant early start; retired the side in order in the second. | 4.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K |
| Brody Connors | Provided a major lift off the bench. | 1-for-2, 2 RBI |
Interesting Game Stats
- ■ A New Record: Macaddin Dye set a season-high for ODU by being hit by a pitch three times in a single game.
- ■ Midweek Mastery: The Monarchs notched double-digit scoring for the sixth time this season.
- ■ Series Dominance: With the win, ODU improves to 45-9 all-time against the Spartans, having won 11 of the last 12 meetings.
- ■ Patience at the Plate: ODU hitters drew 11 walks over seven innings, continuously forcing Norfolk State into high-stress pitching situations.
What’s Next?
The Monarchs (10-9) look to carry this offensive momentum into their first home Sun Belt series of the season as they host App State at the Ellmer Family Baseball Complex. The series kicks off this Friday, March 20, at 6:00 PM EDT.
ODU Unfiltered covers Old Dominion University athletics and institutional affairs with the honesty the official channels won't provide.