NORFOLK, Va. (ODUSports.com) – Tommy Bell and Matt Coutney hit home runs, while the pitching staff of Ryne Moore, Nick Pantos and Noah Dean tossed a shutout to lead the Old Dominion Baseball Monarchs to a 12-0 win on Sunday afternoon over Norfolk State.
“I thought our guys did a better job with runners in scoring position today. We pitched very well again and didn’t walk anyone to go along with 14 strikeouts,” head coach Chris Finwood said. “Carter Trice had a nice day at the plate and it was nice to see Andy Garriola drive in some runs. Matt Coutney hit another home run as well. We just need to keep working on our mental toughness as we get more in rhythm as the season unfolds. We played good defense today too.”
Moore tossed four shutout innings and struck out three as Pantos followed with four more scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, and Dean shutout the door by striking out the side in the ninth.
ODU got on the board in the third as Andy Garriola hit a single that moved Kyle Battle to third and Battle scored on an overthrow by NSU’s left fielder. Lincoln Ransom scored Garriola with an RBI ground out and Teschko drove in Coutney with a single for the 3-0 lead.
The Monarchs put on three more runs in the fourth as Carter Trice doubled to lead off the inning. Chris Dengler walked, and Bell drilled a three-run homer to lift for an 6-0 ODU lead.
The Monarchs tacked on a run in the seventh on a double-steal attempt that saw trice score to give ODU a 7-0 lead.
ODU put the game away in the eighth with five more runs. Garriola delivered a bases clearing double to score three runs and Coutney launched his second homer in as many days for the final 12-0 tally.
Trice went 3-for-4 in his collegiate debut, while Garriola, Coutney and Teschko all had two hits.
ODU and NSU will play for the third time this season on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
