NORFOLK, VA—The eighth-ranked Rice Owls (16-9/7-2) scored a run in the eighth to edge Old Dominion, 5-4 in the third and final game of the Conference-USA series Sunday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
ODU senior leftfielder Josh Eldridge (Lorton, VA.) had two RBI’s, freshman thirdbaseman Zach Rutherford (Chesapeake, Va.) had three hits and scored twice, and sophomore Nick Walker (Virginia Beach, VA.) added two hits for ODU (12-8/3-3). The loss ended the Monarchs four-game winning streak and Rice’s three-game losing streak.
Rice took a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth, where the Monarchs scored twice when Rutherford scored from third on a wild pitch and C-USA’s Player of the Week Josh Eldridge’s sacrifice fly brought home Jason McMurray Des Moines, IA.).
ODU tied the contest in the sixth on an RBI single by sophomore Nick Walker (Virginia Beach, VA.) which plated Rutherford. Eldridge then brought home Walker from third on his second sacrifice fly.
Rice re-took the lead in the eighth inning on an RBI double by Tristan Gray which brought home Charlie Warren for the 5-4 lead and win and preventing a series sweep by the Monarchs. ODU outhit the Owls 11-8, stranding 10 runners.
In the last two weeks, ODU went 3-1 against the nation’s top 10 teams, beating then No. 1 Virginia 14-5 and taking two-of-three games from Rice.
The Monarchs return to action Wednesday at VMI in a 3 p.m. contest in Lexington, VA, the travel to Murfreesboro, TN. For a three-game C-USA series at Middle Tennessee beginning Friday.
Rice 002 200 010=5-8-2
ODU 000 202 000=4-11-0
Rice: Orewiler, Stephens(4), Ditman(8) and Reeves, Kopycinski(6)
ODU: Hartman, Bishop(6), Bainbridge(7),S.Sinnen(8) and Perez
WP: Stephens(2-1) LP: S.Sinnen(1-2);Save: Ditman(4)