HOUSTON, Texas -- Despite scoring first with two runs in the second inning, the Old Dominion Baseball Monarchs fell to the Rice Owls, 6-2, on Saturday afternoon at Reckling Park. With the loss, ODU moved to 18-6 overall and 3-2 in Conference USA play, while the Owls improved to 13-9 overall and 4-1 in league action.
After a scoreless first inning, the Monarchs put together a two-run second to take the early lead. Chris Livers led off with a single up the middle and was followed by a double from Jason McMurray to put two runners in scoring position for ODU. Nick Lustrino hit a slow bouncer to second base, but the Rice infielder could not field it cleanly, as Lustrino reached on an error that sent Livers and McMurray home. Grey Finwood executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to push Lustrino to second base, but Lustrino was thrown out at home plate from right field after a Connor Myers single to end the Monarchs momentum.
The Owls responded with one run in the bottom of the inning off a solo homer by Dane Myers, the first of his career. The Monarchs went three up, three down in the top of the third, while Rice recorded four more runs off three hits in the bottom to take a 5-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Rice had a chance to increase its lead, but a heads up defensive play by Myers shut the door on the Owls. With one out and the bases loaded, Dane Myers flied out to Myers who then gunned down Ryan Chandler advancing to third, denying Rice a run.
A couple of costly wild pitches by Grayson Bailey in the bottom of sixth allowed Rice to tack on another run on the board (6-2) off a sacrifice fly by Connor Teykl to reach the eventual final score.
Starting pitcher Blake Fox retired 10 ODU batters in a row from the fourth inning to the seventh and 17-of-20 since the Monarchs scored in the second before being spelled by Glenn Otto midway through the eighth inning. Otto secured the win for Rice, allowing no hits for the Monarchs.
McMurray finished the day 1-for-2 with a run scored, while Livers went 1-for-3 with a run of his own. Myers and Rutherford both went 1-for-4 on the day. Adam Bainbridge suffered the loss, pitching 2.2 innings and allowing five runs on five hits. Thomas Busbice pitched a solid 1.2 innings of relief (1 H, 1 SO), while Grayson Bailey went 1.2 innings with one run. Brett Smith closed the game for ODU facing seven batters in 2.0 innings.
Fox earned the win for the Owls after going 7.2 innings with six strikeouts. Warren led Rice with a 4-for-4 outing and a RBI, while Myers went 1-for-2 with a run scored and two RBIs.
The Monarchs are back in action tomorrow at 2 p.m. (ET) at Reckling Park against the Rice Owls for the final game of the weekend series. The contest can be viewed through riceowls.com, while live stats can be found here. The contest will also be broadcasted on STAR 1310 AM in Hampton Roads and on Monarch Media with Doug Ripley once again on the call.
ODU | 020 000 000 - 2 4 1
Rice | 014 001 00x - 6 8 1
ODU | Adam Bainbridge, Thomas Busbice (3), Grayson Bailey (5), Brett Smith (7)
Rice | Blake Fox, Glenn Otto (8)
Win | Blake Fox
Loss | Adam Bainbridge
Save | None
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