Feb. 24, 2012
NORFOLK, VA--Rutgers scored four runs in the seventh inning and one in the ninth to defeatthe ODU Baseball Monarchs, 8-6 Friday in game one of a three-game series at the Bud MethenyBaseball Complex which was carried live on Star1310 AM.
The Scarlet Knights (1-3) led 3-0 when ODU tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a two-outthree-run homer by thirdbaseman Brent Frazier (Fairfax Station, VA.), scoring rightfielder Ben Verlander (Maidens, VA.)and catcher Josh Tutwiler (Bridgewater, VA.).
In the ODU half of the fifth, designated hitter Joey Burney (Gloucester, VA.) slammed a two-out homer with shortstop Josh Wright (Bridgewater, VA.) aboard to give the Monarchs a 5-3 lead. Pinch hitter Austin McGowan (Midlothian, VA.) doubled down the right field line to Plate pinchrunner Kenneth Belgrave (Norfolk, VA.) to make it 6-3 after six innings.
In the seventh, the Scarlet Knights rallied with four runs capped by a two-run double by rightfielderSteve ZaVALA. Brian O'Grady also knocked in a run that inning and Zavala later scored on an errorTo give Rutgers the 7-6 lead.
Rutgers scored another run in the ninth as Bill Hoermann singled home Jeff Meillo.
Five Monarchs, Joey Burney, Ben Verlander, Josh Tutwiler and Brent Frazier had two hitseach. Jeff Melilo led Rutgers with four this and three runs scored, while Bill Hoermann had threehits and three RBI and Brian O'Grady three hits and two RBI for the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers reliever Willie Beard pitched 3.1 innings allowing just one hit and striking out two for hisFirst win of the year.
The two teams play again Saturday at 2 p.m.
RU 001 200 401=8-15-0ODU 000 321 000=6-12-1
Rutgers Battery: Gebler, Beard (6) and MeliloODU Battery: McCarthy, Ali (6), Smith (7) and Tutwiler, Perez (8)
WP: Beard (1-0) LP: Ali (0-1)HR: ODU- Burney (1), Frazier (1)