May 10, 2002
Towson, Md. - Sophomore righthander Jason Seger (Riverdale Baptist H.S./Brandywine, Md.) cameout of the bullpen and pitched three scoreless innings as Towson University (22-25-1, 8-11) won its sixth game in a row, a 5-4 Colonial Athletic Association victory over Old Dominion University (23-23, 5-10).
The win enabled the Tigers to keep their CAA Tournament hopes alive as they snapped Old Dominion's five-game winning streak. The victory marked Towson's first win over ODU since 1982. ODU had won the last six meetings.
Seger, who earned his fourth save of the season, entered the game in the seventh inning with the Tigers clinging to a 5-4 lead. There were no outs and ODU had runners on first and third. He got senior Jared Musolf (Manchester H.S./Lakehurst, N.J.) to hit a grounder to senior third baseman Scott Bacon (Elkton H.S./Elkton, Md.). Bacon threw home to retire junior Ryan Harvey (Riverside C.C./Riverside, Cal.) for the first out. After a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Allen Strick (Mt. St. Joseph's H.S./Glen Burnie, Md.) moved the base runners to second and third, Seger retired junior John Oehler (Audubon H.S./Audubon, N.J.) on a fly ball to center field.
In the eighth inning, the Monarchs put two runners on base with one out but Seger retired the final two hitters of the inning. He also set down the Monarchs in order in the ninth inning.
The Tigers took a 3-0 lead in the first inning when junior Joey Marcozzi (Calvert Hall H.S./Bel Air, Md.) led off with a walk. Sophomore shortstop Brian McKenna (Watkins Mill H.S./Germantown, Md.) doubled down the left field line to put runners on second and third. Marcozzi scored on an infield grounder by senior Gregg Davies (Sherwood H.S./Olney, Md.). Bacon followed with a perfectly placed bunt single as McKenna scored for a 2-0 lead. Walks to sophomores Mike Costello (Archbishop Curley H.S./Baltimore, Md.) and Bobby Paduano (St. Anthony's H.S./Huntington, N.Y.) loaded the bases. Senior catcher Casey Stidham (Severna Park H.S./Severna Park, Md.) singled to right field for a 3-0 lead before freshman righthander Justin Verlander (Goochland H.S./Goochland, Va.) of ODU struck out the last two hitters of the inning.
The Monarchs rallied to tie the game in the third inning. ODU loaded the bases on a walk to freshman Jesse Schoendist (C. Milton Wright H.S./Belcamp, Md.), a bunt single by sophomore Joe Moore (Woodbridge H.S./Woodbridge, Va.) and a throwing error by Tiger pitcher Jason Summerlin (Owings Mills H.S./Reisterstown, Md.). A sacrifice fly by Harvey cut the lead to 3-1 before Musolf's two-run double tied the game.
In the bottom of the third inning, Bacon scored the go-ahead run when he led off with a single and later scored on a hard-hit infield grounder by Paduano. The Tigers upped their lead to 5-3 in the fifth inning as Davies singled, went to second base on a balk, and stole third. Costello's sacrifice fly scored Davies.
In the seventh inning, junior Brent Sollengerger (Chambersburg H.S./Chambersburg, Pa.) doubled to lead off. When Harvey walked, ODU had the tying runs on base. After an RBI single by junior Kevin Snapp (Cypress C.C./Yorba Linda, Cal.), Seger relieved sophomore lefthander Geoff Kelowitz (Jim Thorpe H.S./Jim Thorpe, Pa.) and pitched out of the jam.
Kelowitz earned his second win with a strong relief outing. He pitched three innings, allowing one run on three hits.
Verlander pitched seven innings for the Monarchs and took the loss. He is now 6-6 on the season. In seven innings, he allowed five runs on nine hits with five walks and 10 strikeouts.
Bacon and Costello led the Tigers' ten-hit attack with two hits each.
Towson and Old Dominion resume their three-game series on Saturday with a 1:00 game.
College Baseball: Towson 5, Old Dominion 4Old Dominion 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 - 4 9 0Towson 2 1 1 0 0 8 0 0 x - 5 10 1Justin Verlander, Kevin Evans (8) and John Oehler.Jason Summerlin, Geoff Kelowitz (4), Jason Seger (7) and Casey Stidham.WP: Geoff Kelowitz, 2-2.LP: Justin Verlander, 6-6.2B: ODU - Brent Sollengerger 2, Jared Musolf, John Oehler. TOW - Brian McKenna, Mike Costello.