May 12, 2004
RADFORD, Va.- Old Dominion scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning to rally past Radford 7-6 in non-Conference baseball Wednesday afternoon at Dedmon Center Park. The loss is the fourth straight for RU, it longest such streak since early march. It was also the seventh straight victory for the Monarchs.
ODU (22-24) entered the eighth inning down two runs. Second baseman Justin Gregula pulled the Monarchs within one by scoring on a single by third baseman Allen Strick. Strick then tied the game by taking home plate on a wild pitch. Pinch hitter Dana Arrowood scored the winning run for Old Dominion on another wild pitch.
Cory Koliscak (3-3) took the loss for the Highlanders. He faced two batters in the eighth inning, allowing two runs on one hit. Radford starter Mark Fleisher threw 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs, three earned on seven hits while striking out six. Hunter Hall (1-0) picked up his first win of the season for the Monarchs. He threw six innings of relief, giving up one unearned run on three hits.
Radford (20-23) started things early, scoring four runs in the first inning. First baseman Kellen Wohlford singled to right field to score second baseman Alan Ashworth and centerfielder Jesse Ross. Fleisher then double to score Wohlford and third baseman Shaun House doubled to score Fleisher.
ODU responded with a run in the second and a run in the third inning. Right fielder Derek James hit a fly ball to left centerfield in the second that was caught by Ross, but it was ruled a home run after it was determined that the ball struck tree branches in flight. Shortstop Brandon Carter, who reached on an error in the third inning, scored on an RBI double by catcher Evan Chipman.
The Highlanders added another run in the bottom of the third when Fleisher cranked his 13th home run of the season over the centerfield wall. But the Monarchs got the run back in the top of the fourth when centerfielder Joe More singled to left field, scoring Strick.
The teams again traded runs in the seventh, with Moore scoring for ODU on a single by designated hitter Steven Harris. Ross scored for Radford in the bottom half of the stanza on a fly-out by Ashworth, giving RU a 6-4 advantage heading into the eighth.
Fleisher and Wohlford led the Highlanders at the plate, collecting two hits and two RBI each. Moore, James and Strick each had two hits and one RBI to lead the Monarchs.
Radford head to Rock Hill, S.C. Friday for a key three-game Big South series against Winthrop. First pitch Friday is set for 7:30 pm. Old Dominion will host Hofstra in a three-game CAA series beginning Friday at 7:00 pm.