NORFOLK, Va. (Interstat) — Jackson Marshall launched two home runs and drove in three as the Connecticut Huskies erupted for a 14-3 victory over the Old Dominion Monarchs in a nonconference baseball game Saturday at Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.

The Huskies (7-7) broke open a close game with a five-run fifth inning and pulled away late, avenging a loss from the previous weekend and handing the Monarchs (7-6) a decisive defeat in the second game of their weekend series. Connecticut’s offense produced 13 hits, while its pitching staff, led by a dominant relief outing from Greg Shaw, held Old Dominion to nine hits.

The most important sequence of the game came in the top of the fifth inning, turning a manageable deficit for Old Dominion into a commanding Connecticut lead. Holding a 5-3 advantage, the Huskies saw Jackson Marshall lead off with a double. After a walk, center fielder Nater Wachter connected for a three-run homer to center field, clearing the bases and extending the lead to 8-3. That blast sapped the momentum from the Monarchs, who had scored all three of their runs in the first three innings.

Old Dominion struck first, plating two runs in the opening frame against Connecticut starter Cayden Suchy. TJ Aiken doubled and scored on an RBI triple from Maverick Stallings, who later came home on a fielder’s choice by Zach Leite. Stallings added a solo home run in the third inning, accounting for all of the Monarchs’ runs and finishing 3 for 4 with two RBIs.

Connecticut began its methodical response in the second when Marshall hit the first of his two solo shots. They took the lead for good in the third, scoring twice on an RBI double from Chase McCombsTaylor and a run-scoring single by shortstop Rob Rispoli, who went 2 for 3 with two RBIs.

The Huskies added two more in the fourth on a two-run single by catcher Gabriel Tirado, who led all players with four RBIs on a 3-for-5 day. After Wachter’s pivotal three-run homer in the fifth, Connecticut continued to pour it on with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, capped by Marshall’s second homer in the eighth and another RBI double from Tirado.

While the offense provided ample support, the pitching combination of Suchy and Shaw silenced the Monarchs over the final six innings. Suchy earned the win, allowing three runs on nine hits over four innings. Shaw was exceptional in relief, throwing four perfect innings with two strikeouts to secure the victory.

The loss went to Old Dominion starter JJ Gatti, who was charged with four runs over three-plus innings. Reliever Connor Schumann allowed three runs in one inning of work.

The victory levels Connecticut’s record at .500 and gives them a chance to win the series when the teams conclude their three-game set Sunday afternoon. Old Dominion will look to avoid the series loss before heading into a week that includes a road game at East Carolina.

The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 6-5 Old Dominion victory, though the service’s ELO rating system gave Connecticut a 59.8% probability to win.

Marshall, the clear standout, continued a strong weekend after going 2 for 4 in Friday’s win, solidifying his role as the Huskies’ offensive catalyst.