Monarchs toss 2-hitter, top rival VCU

Old Dominion put together one of its best performances of the season Tuesday night against perhaps its top nonconference rival, defeating Virginia Commonwealth 7-1 before 583 at Bud Metheny Ballpark.

Seven pitchers combined on a two-hitter for ODU (22-18), which took command with a five-run seventh inning.

ODU starter Nick Sulpizio (1-0) gave up an RBI single in the first inning to Aden Hill, and reliever Huston Trobaugh yielded a single to Brandon Eike in the third.

Steven Trone, Kellen Davis, Aiden Kuhle, Vincent Bashara and Lincoln Ransom combined for six hitless innings of relief to shut down the Rams (25-15) for ODU eighth victory in the rivalry's past 11 games.

The Monarchs pulled even as TJ Aiken scored on Jake Ticer's groundout in the first inning and went ahead in the second when Aiken singled home Carter Sunderman.

The score remained 2-1 until ODU's seventh. Aiken doubled, Kyle Edwards singled and Luke Waters was hit by a pitch, loading the bases.

One out later, Kenny Levari laced a three-run double. Sunderman later drew a bases-loaded walk, and Steven Meier scored the final run on a fielder's choice.

No. 14 Virginia 14, Liberty 4: The Cavaliers (31-11) clubbed five homers and registered a run-rule victory over the Flames (17-22) in Charlottesville.

Western Branch High graduate Harrison Didawick hit a three-run homer, his team-leading 16th of the year, in the sixth inning. He is tied with Jarrett Parker (2009) and Joe Koshansky (2004) for the fifth most in a single season.

Henry Ford hit his 15th homer, tying the Cavaliers' single-season freshman record held by UVA Baseball Hall of Famer and former big leaguer Mark Reynolds (2002) of Virginia Beach.

Virginia Tech 24, George Mason 5: Virginia Beach's Carson DeMartini hit two home runs and drove in four as the Hokies (26-12) pounded the Patriots (17-21) in Blacksburg.

Tech had 26 hits, led by Ben Watson's five.

VMI 14, William & Mary 5: The Keydets (24-20) scored five runs in the first inning off Alex Markus (1-4) at Plumeri Park and handed the Tribe (25-16) its fifth consecutive defeat.

Grayson Fitzwater drove in six runs for VMI.

Joe Delossantos was 2 for 5 with a run and three RBIs for W&M.