March 15, 2011
NORFOLK, Va. -- Old Dominion fell 7-3 in the first of a two-game series with Rutgers Tuesday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Stadium. The Monarchs fought back from 6-0 and had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but the Scarlet Knights' Jerry Elsing came in relief to record the save, striking out Josh Tutwiler for the save.
The Monarchs drop to 8-10 overall. On the mound, Louis Singleton fell to 0-2 on the year having pitched 3.2 innings and allowing six hits, six runs, three walks, and four strikeouts.
Scarlet Knight right fielder Michael Lang meanwhile went 4-for-4 with three RBI's, including his first home run of the season in Rutgers' four run fourth inning to help his squad improve to 6-8 on the year. Willie Beard, who pitched 5.2 innings, upped his record to 2-0 with seven hits, two runs, four walks, and a pair of strikeouts. Elsing picked up his second save of the 2011 season.
Rutgers opened up scoring in the first as lead-off hitter Brandon Boykin rounded the bases following a sacrifice fly to right field by designated hitter D.J. Anderson.
The Scarlet Knights went up 2-0 in the third with another run batted in by Anderson. With a single up the middle, Anderson sent home Steve Zavala, who scored after he led the inning off with a single up the middle, a stolen base, and a bunt by Lang.
Rutgers added more four runs in the fourth thanks to a pair of two run home runs. Boykin and Lang both hit the ball over the left field fence to give the Knights a 6-0 advantage.
Old Dominion lit up the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth. Right fielder Nate Hartman had an RBI single and catcher Joey Burney scored on a wild pitch cutting the Rutgers lead to four.
Rutgers' Lang added his third RBI of the afternoon with two outs in the eighth with a single up the middle. His fourth hit of the game helped score Pat Sweeney to extend the Scarlet Knight lead to 7-2.
With two outs and two on in the bottom of the ninth, Burney, who ended the day 3-for-5, added a run with a single to center, once again cutting the Monarch deficit to four runs. A batter later, Rob Corsi came into pitch for Scarlet Knight starter Willie Beard and ODU's Hartman was hit by a pitch to load bases. Elsing then took the mound for Rutgers and struck out Tutwiler, representing the tying run, to save the game.
The Monarchs close out the season series with the Scarlet Knights tomorrow. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.