NORFOLK, Va. - Three Binghamton pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts with no walks and the Bearcats (2-2) knocked off No. 23 Old Dominion (3-1) 4-1 Friday night at Bud Metheny Stadium. It was the team's first win over a ranked opponent since BU swept a four-game set from No. 19 Virginia Tech in 2017.

Junior lefthander Thomas Babalis (W, 1-0) limited the Monarchs to one run over 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts. Sophomore Gabe Driscoll (2K in 1.2 IP) worked out of a jam in the sixth by stranding a pair of runners in scoring position. Junior closer Jack Collins (S) then blanked ODU over the final two frames with three strikeouts. 

Offensively, BU did all its damage in the first four innings. Graduate center fielder Garrett Matheny (2-for-5, 2 RBI) led off the game with a double to right field. He promptly scored on an RBI double by sophomore left fielder Tommy Reifler, giving the Bearcats a quick 1-0 lead. In the second inning, senior shortstop Jake Evans drew a 1-out walk and junior second baseman Cavan Tully followed with a single to right. Matheny then delivered a two-run double down the left field line to score both and stake BU to a 3-0 lead. 

The Bearcats scored their final run in the fourth inning. Junior right fielder Nick Di Vietro led off with a double to deep center and then stole third. Evans then hit a roller that the ODU pitcher threw away at first, allowing Di Vietro to score and make it 4-0.

Babalis, meanwhile, was in control through the first five innings. ODU scored its run on a solo home run in the sixth and after the next two batters reached, Driscoll entered in relief. He fanned the next batter and then Tully left ODU with runners at second and third when he chased down a foul fly and made a tough catch behind first base. 

Neither team scored over the final three innings.     

The Monarchs, reigning Conference USA champions and NCAA Regional runnersup last spring, came into the game having scored 43 runs in their last two games. They were held to just one run on five hits as BU pinned the first loss on the season on their high-ranking hosts. 

The teams continue their three-game weekend set with a 2 p.m. start on Saturday.