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NORFOLK, VA--The ODU Monarchs (13-23/4-11) scored two runs in the seventh to break a 4-4 tie and held off a JMU (11-24-1/6-12) rally to defeat the Dukes, 6-5 Sunday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
In the ODU seventh inning pinch hitter Shawn Sizemore led off with a walk, and was moved to second by Drew Coker's sacrifice bunt followed by an intentional walk to Josh Wright. Josh Eldridge then reached on an error which allowed Sizemore to score from second to put ODU up 5-4. Chris Baker's sacrifice fly plated Wright with the second run of the inning and a 6-4 ODU lead.
JMU added a run in the eight as Casey Goss led off with a double, then scored on Cole McInturff's groundout. The Dukes would later load the baseswith two outs, but reliever Dean Ali got out of the jam with a groudout. In the ninth inning JMU's Conner Brown led off with a single, but was forced out on Ian Hayne's sacrifice bunt attempt. With Haynes on first, Casey Goss lined to ODU's shortstop Josh Wright who then got Haynes for the double play to end the rally and game.
The Monarchs first run came in the second inning after Austin McGowan and Ben Verlander doubled, McGowan scored from third on Brian Bashara's sacrifice fly to right.
JMU scored four runs in the fifth led by and two-run double by Aaron Hoover and an RBI groundout by Casey Goss along with threeMonarch errors for a 4-1 lead.
Josh Wright started the ODU rally when he led off the sixth with a double down the leftfield line and went to third on a wild pitch. Josh Eldridge brought him home on a groundout. Chris Baker followed with a single then senior catcher Josh Tutwiler slammed his third homer of the series with a two-run shot to right to tie the game at 4-4. Tutwiler is now tied with Josh Wright and Chris Baker for the team lead in homers with six.
ODU starter C.J. Huyett pitched six innings allowing four unearned runs with no walks and three strikeouts in a no decision. Brandon Smith got the win in Relief, his sixth of the season and second of the week (Beat ECU on Wednesday) and Dean Ali picked up his second save of the week.JMU's Evan Scott pitched innings with two walks and eight strikeouts took the loss.
Austin McGowan led ODU with two hits, while Josh Wright scored twice. JMU was led by Ty McFarland with three hits followed by ColbyRoberts and Aaron Hoover with two hits each.
ODU returns to action Tuesday night at Harbor Park, home of the AAA Norfolk Tides when they play crosstown rival Norfolk State at 6:16 p.m.
JMU 000 040 010=5-10-2ODU 010 003 20x=6-6-3
JMU Battery: Scott, Bladel(7) and ShabanODU Battery: Huyett, B.Smith (7), Ali(8)) and TutwilerWP: Smith(6-1) LP: Scott (1-4) SV: Ali (2)HR- ODU Tutwiler (6)