RUSTON, La. -- Old Dominion forced a rubber match against the LA Tech Bulldogs and ended a four game skid after taking game two of the weekend series, 4-2, on Saturday afternoon at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park. The Monarchs improved to 25-14 overall and 8-9 in Conference USA play, while LA Tech fell to 22-13 on the year and 9-8 in league action.
LA Tech scored first with a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the third, marking the only run by both teams through five innings. The Monarchs recorded three hits trough the first five innings and left three stranded, while the Bulldogs registered just two hits and left three on base.
The Monarchs tied the game in the top of the sixth inning, after Kurt Sinnen singled to score Nick Walker from third base. Walker led off with a first pitch double to left center and then advanced to third on a fly out to left field by Zach Rutherford. Sinnen then swung at the first pitch of his at bat and singled to right field to tie the game (1-1).
Old Dominion took the lead over the Bulldogs for the first time this weekend in the top of the seventh inning off a Kyle Beam single to left field. Two straight walks for relief pitcher Zack Hamilton gave Beam the chance to knock one into left and score pinch runner Nick Lustrino from second base. Beam and Jason McMurray advanced a bag on the throw to home and scored on back-to-backs singles through the left side from Grey Finwood and Walker. ODU had the bases loaded after Connor Myers was intentionally walked, but Turner Bishop struck out swinging to end the Monarchs’ run.
The Bulldogs cut the ODU lead in half with their second solo home run of the game by Sean Ullrich in the bottom of the seventh with one out on the board, by a foul out to catcher Kyle Beam and a diving grab by Myers in center closed the door on LA Tech. Neither team would score in the eighth or ninth, as the Monarchs took game two by a 4-2 margin.
Victor Diaz earned the win after pitching a solid 6.0 innings with just three hits and one run. He faced 23 batters, fanning three, and dropped his season ERA to 2.08. Sam Sinnen earned his first save of the season after pitching the final three innings and allowing just one run on two hits. Beam (2-4) and Walker (2-5) led the Monarchs offensively with two hits, one run and one RBI on the day.
Zack Hamilton took the loss for LA Tech after allowing two runs in the seventh inning. Jonathan Washam was the only Bulldog to record multiple hits, as he finished the day 2-for-3.
The Monarchs will be back in action tomorrow against the Bulldogs at 12 p.m. at J.C. Love Field for game three of the series. The game will again be streamed through latechsports.com and broadcast on STAR 1310, with Doug Ripley on the call. Live stats will be available once the contest begins and can be found on latechsports.com.
ODU| 000 001 300 - 4 8 1
LA Tech| 001 000 100 - 2 5 0
ODU| Victor Diaz, Sam Sinnen (7)
LA Tech| Cameron Linck, Zack Hamilton (7), Graham Ahlrich (7), Casey Sullivan (7)
Win| Victor Diaz (4-3)
Loss| Zack Hamilton (1-1)
Save| Sam Sinnen (1)
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