CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Nick Lustrino knocked his first home run of the season, and a two-run homer at that, but Old Dominion still fell to Marshall, 5-3, in game one of the weekend series at Appalachian Power Park on Thursday afternoon. The Monarchs dropped to 31-21 on the year and 14-14 in Conference USA, while the Thundering Herd improved to 31-18 overall and 20-8 in league play.
After a scoreless first inning, the ODU Monarchs took a 2-0 lead after a two-out bomb to right center field by third baseman Lustrino, his first home run of the season. Catcher Kyle Beam scored on the play after he singled to left field with two outs on the board.
Starting pitcher Sam Sinnen and the ODU defense held the Thundering Herd to just one hit over the second and third innings, but Ryne Dean homered to right field for a three-run blast to give Marshall the 3-2 edge in the fourth inning. Old Dominion tied the game in the top of the sixth inning after Zach Rutherford reached on an error by the first baseman on a sacrifice bunt that also advanced Nick Walker to third base. Connor Myers then came to the plate and batted in his 40th run of the season after knocking a sacrifice fly out to deep center field to score Walker (3-3).
The Herd added one run in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings, while holding ODU scoreless since the sixth to secure the the 5-3 victory in game one. Sinnen pitched the first five innings for the Monarchs and allowed four hits, three runs and fanned two. Brett Smith pitched one and a third innings for ODU, before being spelled by Nick Hartman in the seventh inning. Smith has hit with the loss, as he allowed the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. Hartman finished the game with two strikeouts, while allowing three hits and a run.
Lustrino led the Monarchs with a 2-for-3 outing, including his first home run of the season. Walker also registered two hits in four at bats, while scoring one run and stealing his 19th base of the season.
Dean led Marshall with two hits and four RBIs, while four other Thundering Herd players registered one hit. Chase Boster went the distance for Marshall to earn his seventh win of the year with eight strikeouts and no walks.
The Monarchs are back in action tomorrow at 12 p.m. at Appalachian Power Park against the Thundering Herd for game two of the weekend series. The game will be broadcast on Monarch Media (audio only) with Ted Alexander on the call, while being streamed live on herdzone.com. Live stats can also be found on herdzone.com once the contest begins.
ODU| 020 001 000 - 3 5 0
MAR| 000 300 11X - 5 8 1
ODU| Sam Sinnen, Brett Smith (6), Nick Hartman (7)
MAR| Chase Boster
Win| Chase Boster (7-2)
Loss| Brett Smith (1-3)
Save| None
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