April 8, 2012
TOWSON, MD--Towson (15-16/9-6) catcher Andrew Parker singled home Kurt Wertz from second in the bottom of the 10th to lead the Tigers to a 4-3 win over Old Dominion (11-21/3-9) Sunday afternoon at Schuerholz Park.
Towson got on the board first. In the third inning with two outs, Hunter Bennett and Ben Winter reached on hits and after Brendan Butler walked to load the bases, Fratantouno was hit with a pitch to force home Bennett.
ODU tied the game in the fifth on Austin McGowan's first homer of the season and his collegiate career to lead off the inning. ODU then added two unearned runs as Kenneth Belgrave singled home Brent Frazier and Josh Eldridge doubled home Belgrave for a 3-1 lead.
Towson came back to tie the game in the sixth when Andrew Parker led off with a solo homer, his third of the series. Hunter Bennett then singled home Zach Fisher for a 3-3 tie.
The Monarchs threatened in the third, but Kenneth Belgrave was thrown out at the plate when he tried to score from second on Josh Wright's single to left. ODU also loaded the bases in the ninth but were unable to score. In the tenth, Austin McGowan tripled with one out, but did not score. The Monarchs left 12 runners on base.
This was the Monarchs fifth extra inning game of the season, winning two.
ODU used four pitchers on the day. Senior C.J. Huyett started, followed by Dean Ali with two shutout innings with four strikeouts. Brandon Smith pitched 1.1 innings and Erick Baker pitched the last 3.1 innings. He fanned three batters in the tough loss.
The Monarchs travel to nationally ranked East Carolina (22-8-1) on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. That contest will be carried live on Star1310 WGH AM with Director of Athletic Communications Ted Alexander along with Doug Ripley providing the Play-by-play. ODU then hosts defending CAA Champion James Madison next weekend beginning Friday night.
ODU 000 030 000TOW 001 002 000
ODU Battery: Huyett, Ali (3), B.Smith(5), E. Baker (7) and TutwilerTOW Battery : Gonnella, Acker (6) and Parker
HR: ODU-McGowan (1), Towson-Parker (3)