MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Old Dominion dropped a close 4-3 loss to Big 12 opponent West Virginia in game one of the three-game series on Friday afternoon at Monongalia County Ballpark. The Baseball Monarchs fell to 10-3 overall, while the Mountaineers improved their record to 8-3.
ODU got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning, scoring two runs to take the early lead. With one out, Kurt Sinnen singled to right field and then scored from first base after Jason McMurray blasted a double to right center. Nick Lustrino grounded out to second base, but moved McMurray to third, giving Turner Bishop the chance to single to right field and score the second baseman.
The Monarchs would hold the lead until the sixth inning when the Mountaineers tied the game at 2-2. Kyle Davis led off with a single through the left side and then proceeded to steal second base. After Darius Hill reached on a fielding error, Davis touched home for WVU’s first run of the game. Hill then advanced to second on a balk and then to third after a Cole Austin fly out to Nick Walker. Morgan Maguire relieved Sinnen, but allowed Jackson Cramer to tie the game with a single down the right field line. However, he helped end the Mountaineers threat after striking out the final batter following Cramer getting caught stealing.
West Virginia saw its lead grow to 4-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning. Austin reached on another fielding error and moved to third after a double by Cramer. Ray Guerrini recorded two RBI after ODU’s fourth error of the contest, scoring Cramer and Austin, both unearned.
Old Dominion tried to mount a comeback in the top of the ninth inning after McMurray hit a lead-off triple to center field. Lustrino scored McMurray, but the Mountaineers ended the comeback by stricking out Justin Hayes and forcing a fly out by Will Morgan.
Connor Myers and McMurray both finished the day 3-for-4, while McMurray added two runs and a RBI to his stat line. Culver Lamb (1-1) suffered the loss for ODU. Conner Dotson (3-0) recorded the win, while Blake Smith (1) earned his first save of the year for West Virginia.
ODU | 020 000 001 – 3-10-5
WVU | 000 002 02X – 4-7-1
ODU | Sam Sinnen, Morgan Maguire (6), Culver Lamb (8)
WVU | Chad Donato, Connor Dotson (7), B Smith (9)
Win: Connor Dotson (3-0)
Loss: Culver Lamb (1-1)
Save: Blake Smith (1)