Tech will head to Norfolk this Easter weekend to take on a very good ODU squad. ODU is currently 25-9 with a 9-3 record in league play. The two best wins that the Monarchs have are against West Virginia. The have played ranked opponents in Kentucky & Virginia losing by a combine score of 37-7 over the two games. While those numbers aren’t pretty, this will be a big test for the ‘Dogs.
Offensively ODU is lead by Zach Rutherford. Rutherford, one of the best prospects in the league, is hitting .338 on the year with 2 home runs and 29 RBI, while playing solid shortstop only committing 2 errors on the year. Vinnie Pasquantino is their leading hitter at .362 with 3 home runs and 21 RBI. JUCO transfer Jared Young has also been very impressive in his first year with them, hitting .355 with a team-leading 6 home runs and 22 RBI. They are scoring over 7 runs a game so it will be a challenge to hold them down obviously. If Tech can limit the walks, similar to how they did at Rice last weekend they can win this series. They are very similar to Tech offensively, walk about as much as they strike out in order to produce their runs. They don’t have quite as much power, but offense is where they win games.
On the mound is where ODU tends to struggle some. A 4.67 team era is not too strong, so Tech should be able to produce some runs. Their ace is Adam Bainbridge, and he is very good. He is 6-1 on the year with a 1.14 ERA in 55 innings. He doesn’t give up a ton of hits, but also doesn’t strike out a lot of guys so Tech may be able to get to him some. Reminds me some of Casey Sutton’s numbers last year that have even out in 2017. Closer Craig Lopez is their go-to-guy in the bullpen with a 2.81 team era. Throughout their pitching staff there is one thing that sticks out, they don’t strike many guys out. The more times the ball is put in play the better chance you give yourself to get on base. This is why they have struggled on the mound throughout the year along with the five walks a game that they are giving up. A local tie for ODU is Ruston native Jim Wilkerson. Jim is the brother of Tech pitcher Doc Wilkerson. Jim is in his first year at ODU and has compiled a 4.15 ERA in 8.2 innings on the year.
Tech has to continue pitching well. Casey Sutton, Cam Linck, and Nate Harris all give Tech a great chance to win every time out. All 3 had solid starts last weekend and will look to build on that this weekend. Harris closing one game and starting one game is not ideal, but if it is necessary then so be it. Kent Hasler has been solid out of the bullpen in his few appearances which has been nice. He’s the go-to-guy down there with Graham Ahlrich and Zack Hamilton not far behind. Offensively Tech just needs to continue doing what it’s doing. Colby Hamilton has been so good offensively lately that he appears to be taken some at-bats away from Cody Daigle. I can’t argue with that right now with how well he is going. When he is in the lineup it also gives Diaz a chance to DH some which saves his legs. Chase Lunceford is due to heat up again the near future, and when that happens hopefully the offense will explode.
I can’t overstate how crucial this weekend is for Tech. ODU is obviously one of the better teams in the league but Tech has a golden opportunity to get right back in the conference race. Win 2 of 3 and they are sitting pretty. Tech is only 2 games out of 4th place in the lose column with two of the weaker teams in UAB and Western Kentucky at home the next two weekends.
Offensively ODU is lead by Zach Rutherford. Rutherford, one of the best prospects in the league, is hitting .338 on the year with 2 home runs and 29 RBI, while playing solid shortstop only committing 2 errors on the year. Vinnie Pasquantino is their leading hitter at .362 with 3 home runs and 21 RBI. JUCO transfer Jared Young has also been very impressive in his first year with them, hitting .355 with a team-leading 6 home runs and 22 RBI. They are scoring over 7 runs a game so it will be a challenge to hold them down obviously. If Tech can limit the walks, similar to how they did at Rice last weekend they can win this series. They are very similar to Tech offensively, walk about as much as they strike out in order to produce their runs. They don’t have quite as much power, but offense is where they win games.
On the mound is where ODU tends to struggle some. A 4.67 team era is not too strong, so Tech should be able to produce some runs. Their ace is Adam Bainbridge, and he is very good. He is 6-1 on the year with a 1.14 ERA in 55 innings. He doesn’t give up a ton of hits, but also doesn’t strike out a lot of guys so Tech may be able to get to him some. Reminds me some of Casey Sutton’s numbers last year that have even out in 2017. Closer Craig Lopez is their go-to-guy in the bullpen with a 2.81 team era. Throughout their pitching staff there is one thing that sticks out, they don’t strike many guys out. The more times the ball is put in play the better chance you give yourself to get on base. This is why they have struggled on the mound throughout the year along with the five walks a game that they are giving up. A local tie for ODU is Ruston native Jim Wilkerson. Jim is the brother of Tech pitcher Doc Wilkerson. Jim is in his first year at ODU and has compiled a 4.15 ERA in 8.2 innings on the year.
Tech has to continue pitching well. Casey Sutton, Cam Linck, and Nate Harris all give Tech a great chance to win every time out. All 3 had solid starts last weekend and will look to build on that this weekend. Harris closing one game and starting one game is not ideal, but if it is necessary then so be it. Kent Hasler has been solid out of the bullpen in his few appearances which has been nice. He’s the go-to-guy down there with Graham Ahlrich and Zack Hamilton not far behind. Offensively Tech just needs to continue doing what it’s doing. Colby Hamilton has been so good offensively lately that he appears to be taken some at-bats away from Cody Daigle. I can’t argue with that right now with how well he is going. When he is in the lineup it also gives Diaz a chance to DH some which saves his legs. Chase Lunceford is due to heat up again the near future, and when that happens hopefully the offense will explode.
I can’t overstate how crucial this weekend is for Tech. ODU is obviously one of the better teams in the league but Tech has a golden opportunity to get right back in the conference race. Win 2 of 3 and they are sitting pretty. Tech is only 2 games out of 4th place in the lose column with two of the weaker teams in UAB and Western Kentucky at home the next two weekends.
