Monarchs sweep the Tigers in the season opening series

By: Jordan Kendall, Sports Editor and Kayla Wellage, Staff Writer

File Photo by: Brittany Whitham/The Towerlight

The Tigers traveled to Norfolk, Virginia for a three-game season-opening series against the Old Dominion Monarchs. The Monarchs defeated Towson in all three games, shutting them out in the final two.

“There were some really positive things, but we just let some plays get away from us and the games kind of slipped away,” interim head coach Miles Miller said. 

On Sunday, Old Dominion scored in the first inning and never looked back, defeating the Tigers 11-0. While the Monarchs recorded ten hits, Towson only had four and struck out 14 times. 

“It’s frustrating,” Miller said. “We have to do a better job. We can’t strike out as much as we have.”

One of the few positives for the Tigers was the play of junior infielder Brandon Austin, he led Towson with 10 putouts, including a double play in the second. 

An error by senior infielder Noah Cabrera in the seventh allowed two runs to score, a wild pitch advanced the runner to third on the next at-bat. Old Dominion took advantage, scoring another run to increase their lead to 7-0. 

The Tigers pitchers struggled with allowing walks, nine Monarchs batters were walked. 

“We have to throw more strikes,” Miller said. “There were way too many walks.”

In the second inning of Saturday’s 5-0 loss, freshman infielder Ryan Terrents recorded his first career hit to right field. Terrents attempted to steal home plate but was caught stealing. 

Towson used three pitchers in the game, with sophomore right hander Nick Ramanjulu getting the start. He pitched 4.1 innings and recorded five strikeouts. Redshirt sophomore southpaw Teddy Blumenauer pitched three innings allowing one hit, and redshirt junior right hander Matt Watters got the final out in the fifth. 

“Nick, Matt Watters, and Teddy Blumenauer all threw really well on Saturday,” Miller said. “They’ve really worked extremely hard since the fall.”

Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth. Old Dominion hit a two-RBI double in left field. Later in the inning, a throwing error added another run to the Monarchs score. 

“If we can be a little cleaner, throw more strikes, and put the ball in play more, we’ll have a better result,” Miller said. 

The Tigers opened their 2020 season on Friday with a base hit by freshman catcher Burke Camper. Old Dominion responded with six runs in the fourth inning. The Monarchs took advantage of a fielding error and a stolen base.

Despite a slow start to the season, Terrents is trying to remain positive and encouraging.

“The way I stay motivated is honestly staying positive,” Terrents said. “If someone makes an error, we just pick them up and get ready for the next play.”

A double by Cabrera in the sixth, and a triple by Austin scored three of the five Towson runs. 

Junior right handed pitcher Josh Seils took the loss on the mound, he went 3.1 innings and allowed four hits and five runs. Both Camper and sophomore outfielder Javon Fields went 3-4 for Towson.

“We just gotta keep practicing and come out and do well next weekend,” Terrents said.

The Tigers travel to High Point University in High Point, North Carolina for another three-game series beginning Friday, Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. 

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