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NORFOLK, Va. -- A Josh Tutwiler (Bridgewater, Va.) solo shot to right field in the bottom of the sixth inning lifted the Baseball Monarchs to a 3-2 victory over UMass on Sunday at the Bud Metheny Stadium as ODU took the second of this week's three-game series with the Minutemen.
Senior right hander Ben Tomchick (Va. Beach, Va.) improved to 2-0 on the season as he allowed five hits and two runs while striking out nine in six innings of work. Junior right hander Brandon Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) picked up the save, his first of the year. Dennis Torres tossed 7.2 innings allowing seven hits and three runs in the loss.
UMass struck first to taking a 1-0 lead in the third inning with back-to-back doubles. Ryan Cusick doubled to center and then came home on the next batter on a Rob McLam double to center.
The Monarchs tied the game up though in the bottom of the inning. With two outs and two on, Josh Wright (Bridgewater, Va.) singled to short sending home Ty Yesensky (Endwell, N.Y.).
The Minutemen regained the lead in the fourth. Dylan Begin opened the inning with a single, advanced to third with a single to right by Tom Conley, and touched home on the following batter on a wild pitch.
ODU scored in the bottom of the fifth and sixth for the final runs of the game and the win.
In the fifth, Brandon Shelton (Chesapeake, Va.) opened the inning with a double to right and reached third on a sac bunt by Kevin Belgrave (Norfolk, Va.). Austin McGowan (Midlothian, Va.) then hit a sacrifice fly to left to bring home Shelton and tie the game at 2-2.
Tutwiler homered to right in the bottom of the sixth with one out for winning run.
Tutwiler finished the game going 2-of-3 from the plate with a run and RBI. Shelton went 2-of-2 with a run scored.
The Monarchs and Minutemen wrap up the three-game series on Monday at 3 p.m. at the Bud Menthey Stadium.