May 6, 2004

NORFOLK, VA-- The Old Dominion University Monarchs (17-24/6-9) return to action after a 15-day layoff with a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series at James Madison( 26-17/7-8). The series begins Saturday at 4 p.m. in Harrisonburg, VA.

This will be the first of a five-game road swing which includes single games at Liberty on Tuesday (1:00) and Radford on Wednesday (1:00).

Thus far this season, Justin Verlander (Goochland, Va.) ranks fourth nationally in strikeouts per nine innings at 12.8, while Donnie Smith (Portsmouth, Va.) is averaging 11.0 and ranks 25th. Smith also ranks 28th nationally in earned run average at 2.15.

Verlander who is already the CAA and ODU's all-time strikeout king with 384 is scheduled to pitch on Saturday, while Smith is scheduled for Sunday and Ricky Shefka (Kinston, NC.) is slated for Monday's game.

CAA Standings
George Mason   15-3    31-12
VCU            13-5    29-17
UNCW           9-5     23-16
Delaware       7-7     24-16
JMU            7-8     26-17
W&M            8-10    29-17
ODU            6-9     17-24
Towson         6-12    15-27
Hofstra        3-15    11-28

CAA Games This Weekend
FRIDAY
Delaware at Hofstra (2pm)
Towson at UNCW (7 pm)
SATURDAY
Delaware at HOfstra (2pm)
ODU at JMU (4 pm)
Liberty at W&M (4:00)
Towson at UNCW  (7 pm)
SUNDAY
Delaware at Hofsra (1pm)
Towson at UNCW (2pm)
ODU at JMU (2pm)
MONDAY
ODU AT JMU (4 PM)