May 11, 2002
Towson, Md. - Junior second baseman Tom Trela drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to cap a four-run rally as Towson University (23-25-1, 9-11) pulled out a 9-8 Colonial Athletic Association victory over Old Dominion University (23-24, 5-11) at Schuerholz Park on Saturday afternoon.
Trailing by 8-5 entering the last of the ninth, the Tigers rallied to keep their winning streak alive at seven games in a row. The win also enabled the Tigers to keep their CAA Tournament hopes alive.
In the last of the ninth inning, junior Joey Marcozzi led off with a home run to rightfield. Sophomore shortstop Brian McKenna followed with a single to right center field before a single by senior Gregg Davies put the tying runs on base. After McKenna was thrown out trying to steal third base, senior Scott Bacon walked. Sophomore Mike Costello also drew a walk to load the bases.
A two-run single to left field by sophomore Bobby Paduano tied the game at 8-8 and put the tying run on third base. With the infield drawn in, Old Dominion reliever Jonathan Tinkham retired senior catcher Casey Stidham on a ground ball to third base as pinch runner Curtis Lester remained at third base while Paduano took second base. Tinkham loaded the bases with an intentional walk to freshman Jeremy Stifler to bring Trela to the plate.
After falling behind in the count by 3-0, Tinkham came back to throw two strikes. Howver, his 3-2 pitch to Trela was high and outside, forcing Lester home with the game-winning run.
The Monarchs led the entire game until the Tigers' ninth inning rally. A two-run single by junior catcher John Oehler in the first inning gave ODU a 2-0 lead. In the second inning, sophomore Allen Strick walked and scored on an infield error.
Towson rallied for two runs in the fourth inning as Paduano had an RBI triple. Freshman second baseman Shane Justis singled him home with two outs, cutting the lead to 3-2.
Junior Brent Sollengerger had a run-scoring single in the fifth inning to make it a 4-2 lead. With two outs, Oehler singled and ODU had runners on first and third. The Monarchs extended their lead to 5-2 when Sollengerger and Oehler pulled off a double steal.
The Tigers came back and scored twice in the fifth inning as Costello hit a two-run double, cutting the lead to 5-4. An RBI double by sophomore Joe Moore in the sixth inning gave ODU a 6-4 lead.
In the last of the sixth, Stidham led off with a double and scored on an infield out to cut the lead to 6-5.
Old Dominion took an 8-5 lead in the seventh with a two-out rally. Sollengerger singled and Oehler drew a walk off junior righthander Jason Seger. Junior Kevin Snapp then hit a two-run triple to right center, giving ODU an 8-5 lead.
Seger, who earned a save in the Tigers' 5-4 win on Friday, picked up his third victory of the season with 2.1 innings of relief.
The Monarchs, who had nine hits in the game, were led by Moore, who had two doubles, and Sollengerger, who had two hits and two RBI's.
Paduano led the Tigers' 13-hit attack with a single, a double and a triple with three RBI's. Davies, now batting .424, also had three hits.
Towson and Old Dominion resume their three-game series on Sunday with a 1:00 game.
Old Dominion 2 1 0 0 2 1 2 0 0 - 8 9 0Towson 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 4 - 9 13 3
Ryan Williams, Kevin Evans (5), Jonathan Tinkham (8) and John Oehler.Luke Thomas, Jason Seger (7) and Casey Stidham.
WP: Jason Seger, 3-4.
LP: Jonathan Tinkham, 4-3.
2B: ODU - Joe Moore 2.
TOW - Mike Costello, Bobby Paduano, Casey Stidham.
3B: ODU - Kevin Snapp
TOW - Bobby Paduano, Gregg Davies.
HR: TOW - Joey Marcozzi.