THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 26, 1995 TAG: 9505260666
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: TALLAHASSEE, FLA. LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Old Dominion University had two big surprises waiting for Mississippi Thursday in the opening round of the NCAA Atlantic I Regional baseball tournament.
First, the Monarchs showed no fear in facing 6-foot-7 righthander Jamey Price, a first-team All-American who entered with a national-best 1.18 earned run average. ODU rudely welcomed him to the postseason, stinging him for 14 hits.
Second, the Monarchs pulled their own ace righthander, sophomore Brett Wheeler, out of triage long enough to get six scoreless innings from him and take a 5-0 lead.
The fifth-seeded Monarchs turned that advantage into a 5-3 victory over the second-seeded Rebels and advanced to tonight's 7 p.m. game, where fourth-seeded Central Florida, a 6-5 winner over third-seeded South Alabama, awaits.
Wheeler, who hadn't pitched in over a month, was given the green light after Wednesday's light workout at Dick Howser Stadium. An MRI last week showed no damage to his tender right elbow and Wheeler had thrown hard for a week in preparation. ODU coach Tony Guzzo said Wheeler's performance gave his overworked staff a huge lift.
``We didn't feel we had anyone who was well-rested from the (Colonial Athletic Association) tournament,'' said Tony Guzzo.
Hitting the corners all day, Wheeler threw 88 pitches and gave up just three hits, striking out three and walking two.
``When Brett's on he's the best,'' said rightfielder Maika Symmonds. ``I would have loved to see him go the whole game. He was painting the corners.''
Wheeler (7-1) said he, too, wanted to go further. But Guzzo's common sense prevailed.
``A while back, I didn't think I'd pitch the rest of the season,'' said Wheeler, who has a 16-1 career record at ODU. ``But I'll go on Sunday now if they let me.''
Although Wheeler was a freshman All-American last season, it was Price who entered with the larger reputation. During the game, Collegiate Baseball released its Mizuno All-American team, of which Price was a first-team selection.
But one statistic gave the Monarchs hope: Price had pitched 130 innings coming in.
``His arm's got to get tired at some point,'' Symmonds said.
The Monarchs (38-18) scored in the third when Symmonds doubled down the leftfield line and Ron Walker singled to the gap in right.
In the fourth, Ray Russin singled and two outs later Kevin Gibbs worked Price to a full count and fouled off three pitches before drawing a walk. Symmonds then unloaded on a belt-high fastball for his ninth home run of the season and a 4-0 lead.
``We wanted to work him (Price) deep into some counts,'' Symmonds said, grinning. ``But if it's a first-pitch fastball, hit it.''
ODU scratched out another run in the seventh when Russin's sacrifice fly to deep right scored Rob Morgan, who had led off with a single to left.
Mississippi (37-31) got on the scoreboard in the seventh with ODU's John O'Reilly on in relief.
The Rebels' Jim Morgan singled to right and an out later Jeffrey Johnson walked. Tom Afenir flew out to right, but Symmonds' throw to third hit Morgan, who scored as the ball rolled into foul territory. Joe Ignatius followed with a run-scoring double to right.
In the eighth, second-team Mizuno All-American David Delucci homered with one out to make it 5-3. O'Reilly survived the inning. But when he gave up a leadoff walk in the ninth, Walker came on to strike out Johnson, lure Afenir into flying out to right, then strike out Ignatius for the save.
NOTES: Gibbs was named third-team Mizuno All-American while Walker was named freshman All-American honorable mention. ... Righthander Anthony Eannacony (8-4, 3.35) will start tonight for ODU; Central Florida is expected to start Craig Cozart (10-2, 3.27). ... Central Florida (49-11) at one time this season had the nation's longest winning streak at 29 games. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Matt Abernathy of Mississippi is forced out at second base as Old
Dominion shortstop Dan Almonte throws to first base.
by CNB