MIAMI, Fla. -- Old Dominion earned its second win over FIU after another night of hot hitting, defeating the Panthers 10-2 on Saturday night at the FIU Baseball Stadium. The Monarchs improved to 22-10 overall and 5-6 in Conference USA, while FIU fell to 15-18 overall and 4-7 in league action.
The Monarchs picked up right where they left of last night, scoring four runs off of six hits in the top of the first inning. Nick Walker led off with a double down the left field line. Zach Rutherford then followed with a double to left center, but Walker just advanced to third after waiting to see if the leftfielder made the catch. Kurt Sinnen grounded out to the second baseman, but scored Walker in the process for his 19th RBI of the season. A RBI single through the left side by Connor Myers gave the Monarchs the 3-0 lead. A stolen base from Myers and Livers after reaching on an infield hit, gave Jason McMurray the chance to score both and give ODU the early 4-0 edge with a single down the right field line inches away from first base.
The Panthers cut the ODU lead in half in the bottom of the inning (4-2) after registering five hits. The Monarchs posted two force-outs with the bases loaded to end the FIU momentum and leave three stranded for the Panthers.
Starting pitcher Victor Diaz began to settle down and find his groove over the next four innings, as he and the Monarchs retired 11-of-16 batters. Diaz saw his night come to an end in the sixth inning, as Grayson Bailey came on in relief. Diaz pitched 5.0 innings with 11 hits and two runs.
Christopher Mourelle held the Monarchs in check from the second to seven inning, retiring 18-of-19 of the batters he faced. Old Dominion’s bats started to come alive in the top of the eighth inning as the team scored three runs on three hits and three errors by the Panthers. Bryce Windham scored the final run for ODU in the inning (7-2), as he came in to pinch run for Sinnen and scored almost exactly as he did last night. He advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt and moved to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a throwing error by the catcher.
The Monarchs blew the game open in the top of the ninth, scoring three more runs to take a 10-2 lead over the Panthers. ODU tacked on five more hits during the inning, including back-to-back RBI singles from Walker and Rutherford. Diaz secured the win, while Bailey earned his second save of the season by retiring the final three FIU batters, which included two strikeouts. Overall, he pitched a stellar scoreless and hitless 4.0 innings, which included a season-high five strikeouts.
Walker finished the game 3-for-5 with three runs and a RBI, while Rutherford went 4-for-5 with two runs and a RBI. Myers and McMurray led the team with two RBIs apiece. Diaz earned the win for Old Dominion, while Bailey was credited with the save.
Three batters went 2-for-4 for the Panthers, while Kenny Meismerstorf and Nick Day were the ones to drive in the two runs for FIU. Mourelle suffered the loss, pitching in 7.0 innings with nine hits and five earned runs.
The final game of the series will begin at 12 p.m. on Sunday at the FIU Baseball Stadium. The contest will be available on STAR 1310 and Monarch media, while live stats will be available once the contest begins. The game will not be streamed live.
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