March 6, 2009
Norfolk, Va. – ODU sophomore Donnie Corsner went 4-for-5 with a double, a home run and five RBI, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a seven-run second inning by Rutgers who defeated the Monarchs 10-9 Friday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Complex.
With ODU leading 2-1 after the first inning, the Scarlet Knights took advantage of a Monarch error to score seven unearned runs on six hits off of ODU starter Chris Boggs in the top of the second. Jaren Matthews drove in three runs during the inning with a bases loaded triple, and Jarred Jimenez closed out the scoring with a two-run triple of his own.
Corsner trimmed the Rutgers lead to 9-5 with a RBI double to right center in the third, and his second home run of the year, a two-run shot to center field in the fifth off of Casey Gaynor.
The Monarchs found themselves behind by the same four-run margin in the bottom of the eighth before Corsner once again ignited the offense. Jake McAloose led off with a double and promptly scored on Corsner’s fifth RBI of the day, a single to left center field. Brett Harris singled to give ODU runners on first and second before Rutgers coach Fred Hill went to his bullpen for reliever Kevin Lillis. That strategy proved to be costly when two batters later, Josh Wright hit his second home run of the year to left center, a three-run blast that knotted the game at nine apiece.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Rutgers Dan Betteridge doubled off of Cory Toth to keep the inning alive. An error by Wright at first base allowed Betteridge to advance to third and he would eventually score the game winning run from there on a Toth wild pitch.
After winning the Monarchs home opener last Friday against St. Joseph’s with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth, Gerard Hall nearly tied the game in the same fashion. Hall got a hold of a Ryan Beard fast ball and sent it deep to left field where Jimenez made a spectacular grab at the fence to seal the 10-9 victory for the Scarlet Knights.
In addition to Corsner’s big day, the Monarchs also got three hits apiece from Hall and McAloose. Toth (1-2) picked up the loss for ODU, but Brady Burchill had a strong showing, striking out six in four shutout innings of work.
Lillis earned the win for Rutgers to even his mark at 1-1, while Beard recorded his first save of the season.
The weekend series continues tomorrow at 1 p.m. with ODU freshman Brett Harris schedule to take to the mound against Dennis Hill (0-1) of Rutgers.