Series Recap | ODU Unfiltered
Old Dominion (24-23, 11-13 SBC) continues to be the most heart-stopping show in Norfolk. After splitting a Friday doubleheader, the Monarchs secured a massive Sun Belt series win over Arkansas State on Sunday with their fourth walk-off victory in three weeks. The 2-1 series result keeps ODU right in the thick of the postseason conversation as the regular season enters its final stretch.
Friday Doubleheader: A Tale of Two Shutouts
The series opened with a twin bill that saw both pitching staffs trade dominant performances.
Game 1: ODU 8, Arkansas State 0
The Monarchs looked untouchable in the opener. Darin Kuskie (3-6) delivered one of his best outings of the year, backed by an offense that racked up 13 hits.
- The Onslaught: ODU scored in each of the first three innings, including a four-run explosion in the third. Will Johnson was the catalyst, going 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs, while Efrain Morales and Nick Felton both drove in runs to keep the pressure on.
- Staff Stability: Kuskie and reliever Ben Tanton combined to allow just three hits all afternoon, stifling the Red Wolves from start to finish.
Game 2: Arkansas State 6, ODU 0
The momentum shifted immediately in the nightcap. Arkansas State’s Tyler Weimer stymied the Monarch bats, holding ODU to just five hits.
- Pitching Woes: JJ Gatti (0-5) took the loss as the Red Wolves capitalized on free passes and a late three-run eighth inning to even the series. ODU’s best threat came in the sixth with a Maverick Stallings double, but they were unable to manufacture a run.
The Finale: Sunday Magic (ODU 5, Arkansas State 4)
With the series on the line, the Monarchs once again proved they are never out of a game at the Ellmer Family Baseball Complex.
Trailing 3-0 early and 4-2 heading into the eighth, ODU mounted a resilient late-inning rally. In the eighth, a leadoff walk to Scotty Young and a single by Brody Connors set the stage. Nick Felton executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to cut the lead to one, and TJ Aiken followed with a clutch RBI single to knot the game at 4-4.
The Walk-Off
In the bottom of the ninth, Tyler Zedalis drew a one-out walk and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Jack Slater. With two outs and the tension high, Scotty Young delivered a single into shallow right field. Zedalis rounded third and slid home safely, sparking a wild celebration as the Monarchs secured the 5-4 victory.
Reliever Maddox Jack (2-1) earned the win, recording the final two outs of the ninth to keep the game tied.
Top Performers & Series Leaders
| Player | Weekend Impact | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|
| Scotty Young | The hero of the week with his 2nd walk-off hit. | Walk-off RBI Single (Sunday) |
| Will Johnson | Constant pressure in the 1st and 3rd games. | 5 Hits, 4 RBI, 2 Runs |
| Tyler Zedalis | Reached base to score the winning run Sunday. | 1 Run, 1 BB, Defensive Anchor |
| Efrain Morales | Provided consistent hitting in the DH. | 4 Hits, 1 RBI |
| Darin Kuskie | Set the tone with a dominant Game 1 win. | 1-0 Record, 0 R Allowed |
Interesting Series Stats
- Walk-Off Warriors: ODU now has four walk-off wins in three weeks (Richmond, Georgia Southern, VCU, and Arkansas State).
- Pitching Resilience: The Monarch staff held ASU to just 15 total hits over 25 innings of play.
- Home Cookin’: ODU improves to 24-23 overall, leaning heavily on home-field dramatics to climb back toward .500 in conference play.
What’s Next?
The Monarchs (24-23) return to the Bud for a midweek rematch before heading on a critical road trip:
- Tuesday, May 5: vs. Richmond (Norfolk, Va.) – 6:00 PM EDT
- Friday, May 8: at Coastal Carolina (Conway, S.C.) – 6:00 PM EDT
- Saturday, May 9: at Coastal Carolina (Conway, S.C.) – TBA
- Sunday, May 10: at Coastal Carolina (Conway, S.C.) – 1:00 PM EDT
How are the nerves holding up? This team is definitely making the "Unfiltered" recap easy to write, but they aren't doing much for our blood pressure!
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