MURFREESBORO, TN—ODU (25-18/12-11) sophomore Connor Myers knocked in three runs, but all but one starter for Middle Tennessee State (22-21/11-9) had at-least one hit led by Trent Miller with three and four RBI in an 11-8 C-USA loss at Reese Smith Field. The loss ended ODU’s five-series win streak in C-USA.
Taylor Ostrich and Connor Myers each had two hits, while Myers knocked in three runs for the Monarchs. MTSU's Trent Miller, who had three hits and four RBI slammed his fifth homer of the season, a solo shot in the five-run fourth inning. Ryan Stephens also belted two-run shot in that inning. Dustin Delgado had three hits and scored three times for the Blue Raiders.
MTSU jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings, and were up 9-1 after four. ODU battled back with a four-run spot in the fifth as Connor Myers singled in Josh Eldridge and Jordan Negrini. With the bases loaded, Josiah Burney was hit with a pitch to bring home Myers and Taylor Ostrich walked to force home Slaton to make it 9-5.
ODU then cut the lead to one, 9-8 in the eighth inning as Connor Myers singled home Taylor Ostrich and freshman pinch hitter Kurt Sinnen singled home Negrini.
MTSU countered by adding two runs in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single by Michael Atkins and an RBI double by Jake Ellison to push the Blue Raider lead back to 11-8.
The Monarchs threatened in the ninth when Josiah Burney led off with a walk, followed by a single from Ostrich, but reliever Kooper Kessler came in to get a double play and a groundout to end the contest.
The third and final game of the series is Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Listen to it live on STAR1310 AM radio with Ted Alexander providing the play-by-play.
ODU 000 140 030=8-10-2
MTSU 220 500 02x=11-16-2
ODU- Yarbrough, S.Sinnnen(4), Ali(4), Gero(8) and Higgins.
MTSU- Mittura, Tollison(5), Blackham(7), Ring(8),Stockstill(9), Kessler(9) and Adkins
HR: MTSU-Miller(5), Stephens(5)