Box Score

NORFOLK, Va. – Josh Wright went 3-for-4 with a triple, homer and four RBI to lead Old Dominion to a 13-5 win over visiting Norfolk State on Wednesday evening at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.

The Monarchs (15-16) outhit NSU (10-17) 15-12 and strung together three innings of at least three runs to fend off NSU. Chris Warren went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, and James Taylor knocked in two runs for the Spartans.

ODU got a run in the bottom of the first without benefit of a hit. Brandon Shelton walked, advanced to second on an NSU error and stole third base. He scored on Wrights groundout.

The Spartans tied the game at 1-all in the top of the fourth. Brandon Hairston led off with a double and scored on Warren's two-out single.

But the Monarchs scored eight runs in their next two innings. Wright hit a two-run homer in the fourth, while Kenny Stoneback's two-run single highlighted ODU's five-run, six-hit bottom of the fifth.

The Spartans fought back with four runs of their own in the top of the sixth. Chris Joyce led off with a solo home run, his first of the year. With two outs, Taylor knocked in Warren and Sammy Serafine with a single, and Taylor came around to score on a John Rasberry single to cut NSU's deficit to 9-5.

But ODU scored once more in the seventh and three times in the eighth to account for the final margin.

Joe Haumacher (1-2) earned the win for ODU despite allowing seven hits and five runs in 5.2 innings. Chasse Kyriacou (0-1) took the loss for the Spartans, allowing three hits and four runs – three earned – in four innings. He walked three and struck out four.

Warren matched his season high with his three hits. Taylor, Joyce and John Lynch added two hits apiece for NSU. Lynch also stole his 13th base of the season.

The Spartans hit the road for a three-game MEAC series at Maryland Eastern Shore this Saturday and Sunday, then stay on the road for a makeup conference game at Coppin State on Monday.