NORFOLK, VA—The Charlotte 49ers (6-18-1/1-11) scored nine runs in the last three innings to rally and defeat Old Dominion (16-11/6-6), 11-4 in a C-USA contest Sunday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex keeping the Monarchs from sweeping the three-game series, and giving the 49ers their first league win.
ODU took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when shortstop Tyler Urps scored an unearned run. After trailing, 2-1, the Monarchs scored three in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead. Sophomore PJ Higgins drove home Josiah Burney to tie the game at 2-2. Junior leftfielder Josh Eldridge then singled home junior rightfielder Taylor Ostrich for a 3-2 lead and Tyler Urps completed the scoring by driving home Higgins for the 4-2 lead.
Charlotte scored three runs in the seventh on RBI hits from Des Roberts, pinchhhitter Eric Eason and Mikal Hill to take the lead for good at 5-4.
Eason, Corbin Shive and MIkal Hill each knocked in two runs for Charlotte, while Hill and Des Roberts had three hits each for the 49ers who tallied 15 on the day. Nate Traugh (1-2) picked up the win in relief and Hunter May got the save, his first of the season.
Nick Walker, Jordan Negrini, Taylor Ostrich, PJ Higgins, Josh Eldridge and Tyler Urps each had one hit for the Monarchs today.
ODU travels to top ranked Virginia on Tuesday at 5 p.m., then returns home on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. contest against the Tribe of William and Mary in a Optima Health Challenge contest. Listen to the UVA game live on STAR1310 AM with the play-by-play from Ted Alexander and Doug Ripley.
CHA 000 200 324=11-15-2
ODU 001 300 000=4-6-1
CHA: Hudgens, Traugh(5), Mas(7), Davis(7),May(8) and Lang,King(8)
ODU: Roberts, Harris(4), Benitez (7),Sinnen(7), Gero(8), Bishop(9) and K.Sinnen,Perez(5)
WP: Trough(1-2) LP: Benitez(0-1) Save: May(1)