NORFOLK, Va. -- After trailing 4-0 after the fourth inning, the Old Dominion baseball team mounted a comeback to defeat Middle Tennessee, 6-4, on Friday night at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. With the victory, the Monarchs earned their 30th win of the season to move to 30-19 overall and 13-12 in Conference USA play. The Blue Raiders fell to 18-32 on the year and 4-21 in league action.
Middle Tennessee put up for runs on five hits to open the fourth inning, but the Monarchs scored at least a run over the next three innings to earn the two-run victory in the first ever meeting between the two teams at the Bud.
ODU scored one run in the bottom of the fourth on an error by the first baseman on a Turner Bishop hit that sent Kurt Sinnen home from second base. The Monarchs then forced a three up, three down fifth inning for the Blue Raiders and put up two runs in the bottom to tie the game. Nick Lustino and Nick Walker were the first baserunners for ODU, as they both drew walks. Zach Rutherford then blasted a RBI single through the right side to score Lustrino (4-2). Kurt Sinnen was the last batter that starting pitcher Jake Wyrick faced after he walked the junior to load the bases. Garrett Ring came in for relief and hit Connor Myers to score the second ODU run of the inning (4-3). Jason McMurray came to the plate and sent one up the middle to send Rutherford home to tie the game (4-4), but Bishop and designated hitter Will Morgan both struck out swinging to leave three Monarchs stranded.
Starting pitcher Sam Sinnen and the ODU defense held the Blue Raiders scoreless in the top of the sixth, while the offense added two more runs to take the 6-4 lead. Nick Lustrino was the first player to score for ODU after a double down the left field line and a RBI single to right field from Walker. With the bases loaded, Myers reached on a fielder's choice after beating out the attempted double play throw and scored Walker in the process.
Relief pitcher Nick Hartman spelled Sinnen in the top of the seventh inning and retired 8-of-11 batters he faced, which included two strikeouts, to pick up his seventh save of the year. His seven saves ranks ninth in Conference USA. Sinnen pitched a solid six innings and, moving to 6-1 on the year, and fanned five during his time on the mound. Rutherford led ODU with a 3-for-5 outing with one run scored and one RBI, while Myers led the team with two RBIs. Four other Monarchs registered at least a hit.
Aaron Aucker and Austin Dennis each went 2-for-4 on the night, while Blake Benefield led the Blue Raiders with two RBIs. Ring was hit with his fourth loss on the year after allowing the go-ahead run in the sixth inning
The two teams will meet again tomorrow at 3 p.m. at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. The game will be streamed live on Monarch Media and broadcast on STAR 1310 with Andy Mashaw on the call. Live stats will again be available once the contest begins.
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