KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Old Dominion scored a combined seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings to pull out a come-from-behind 8-3 victory over Saint Louis in the season opener on Friday at Osceola Heritage Park.
Trailing 3-1 in the seventh, Brian Morley, a juco transfer from California, tied the game with a two-out, two-RBI single. The Monarchs then took the lead on a Saint Louis (0-1) error that plated two more runs.
Old Dominion (1-0) padded its 5-3 lead with a three more runs in the eighth, including RBIs from Culver Lamb and Will Morgan. Lamb went 3-for-5 with an RBI on the day and Morley went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Matt Schwarz and Bryce Windham combined to score five runs.
On the mound, Brett Smith, in his first appearance since Tommy John surgery early in the 2017 season, earned the win with three scoreless innings of relief. Overall, the ODU bullpen, featuring Morgan Maguire, Smith, Isaiah Nelson and Corey Klak combined to throw five shutout innings.
Starter Jim Fluke went four innings in his first start as a Monarch, allowing three runs and striking out six.
The comeback victory continues a theme from the 2017 season. Last year, the Monarchs had 12 wins when trailing after the sixth inning. ODU trailed 3-1 after the sixth today.
The Monarchs return to action tomorrow against Oakland at 11 a.m. True freshman Hunter Gregory gets the nod on the hill.
FOLLOW ODU BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow @ODUBaseball on Twitter and like ODU Baseball on Facebook for the latest updates.