Verlander Pitchers ODU Over Oklahoma State, 2-1 :: Monarchs end seven game losing streak

March 16, 2003

DURHAM, NC - Sophomore pre-season All-American Justin Verlander (Goochland, VA.) pitched a complete game five hitter to lead the Monarchs over Oklahoma State, 2-1 in the N.C. State Baseball Tournament. The victory ended ODU's seven-game road losing streak.

ODU scored all the runs it would need in the first inning. Evan Chipman (Raleigh, NC.) led off with a double, then scored on Allen Strick's single. Strick went to second on a wild pitch and then went to third on on Brandon Le Noir's single. Pedro Pena's grounder forced out Le Noir, but Pena beat the return throw to first, scoring Strick.

The Cowboys scored their only run in the fourth. With two outs, Jason Jaramillo singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He then scored on Mario Matulich's single. OSU mounted one last threat in the sixth with runners on second and third with one out, Verlander got a pop out and a strikeout to end the inning.

Chipman, Sollenberger and Le Noir each had two hits for the Monarchs, while Verlander fanned nine and walked only two to improve his record to 3-3 and his ERA is at 2.60. ODU travels to #10 Richmond on Thursday before returning home for the first time since March 4 to play a three-game series against Brown March 21-23.

LINESCORE
ODU	200 000 000 =2-9-0
OSU    000 100 000 =1-5-0

ODU Battery: Verlander and Oehler
OSU Battery: Grogan, Spencer

WP:Verlander (3-3) LP: Grogan (1-2)