March 16, 2011
NORFOLK, Va. - The Baseball Monarchs rallied to score six runs in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn't enough in the 14-8 loss in the second and final game of the series with Rutgers University Wednesday at the Bud Metheny Complex.
The loss drops the Monarchs to 8-11 overall as they head into this weekend's series with the Northeastern Huskies.
Rutgers meanwhile improved to 7-8 on the year behind four hits, three runs, and five RBI's from third baseman Russ Hopkins.
Joe Hauacher fell to 0-2 on the mound for Old Dominion, giving up six hits and three earned runs in three innings of work. Rutgers' Dan O'Neill was credited with his first victory of the season. In three innings on the mound, the Scarlet Knight gave up no runs and three hits, while striking out four.
First baseman Chris Baker led the Monarchs at the plate going 3-for-5 with four RBI's and a run.
Old Dominion got onto the scoreboard early as a Chris Baker single through the right side scored lead off hitter Brandon Shelton from third in the bottom of the first. However, from there the Scarlet Knights scored eight unanswered runs.
Rutgers used four hits and capitalized on a pair of Monarch errors to score four runs in the top of the second to take the lead for good.
The Scarlet Knights added a pair of runs in the third and fourth to go ahead 8-1 before Old Dominion added another run in the bottom of the fourth. Josh Wright led off the inning for the Monarchs with double to left and two batters later reached home on a Shawn Sizemore single up the middle.
Rutgers continued to connect with the bats and added another six runs before ODU's final at-bat.
The Monarchs kicked off the bottom of the ninth, down 14-2, by loading the bases with no outs. Both catcher Edgar Hernandez and pinch hitter Jared Lipscombe walked and then advanced a base on a wild pitch. Pinch hitter Brandon Stahl loaded the bases after getting hit by a pitch. Fellow pinch hitter David Alagna walked and was followed by Josh Wright getting hit by a pitch allowing ODU to collect a pair of runs. Baker then knocked home three runs on a double to cut the Monarch deficit down to 14-8.
After two outs, Nate Hartman continued the Monarch rally with a single to right scoring Baker, but that is where the rally would end.
The ODU Baseball Monarchs return to action this weekend in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) action hosting the Northeastern Huskies in a three-game series beginning Friday at 7 p.m.