RUSTON, La. -- Despite a masterful 8.2 innings from starting pitcher Morgan Maguire, Old Dominion fell in heart-breaking fashion to LA Tech, 3-2, in the 2018 season finale on Saturday at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
Old Dominion (15-37, 7-22 C-USA) carried a 2-0 lead into the ninth, but LA Tech (38-18, 21-9 C-USA) rallied for three runs, all unearned, in the bottom of the ninth to pull out the narrow victory.
ODU scored both of its runs in the fifth. Tommy Bell (1-4, R) scored the first run on a double steal and then a throwing error by the LA Tech catcher. Bryce Windham (3-5, 2B, RBI), who hit .500 for the series, then used a two-out bunt single to score the second run.
The 2-0 lead would hold until the final inning, when the Bulldogs loaded the bases with no outs after a hit by pitch, error and bunt single. Maguire then induced a lineout double play, the fourth twin-killing of the game for ODU, but LA Tech's Hunter Wells, in the following at-bat, singled up the middle to plate two runs and tie the game.
The Monarchs then went to the bullpen with Isaiah Nelson, but the Bulldogs' Dalton Skelton singled to deep left to score the winning run.
Maguire (8.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 5 K), who was one out away from his third complete-game shutout of the season and second consecutive, ended his terrific junior season with a 3.09 ERA and did not allow an earned run in his final 17.2 innings.
At the plate, true freshman catcher John Keane (2-3, BB) notched his first career multi-hit game.
ODU, who tied for 11th in the league standings, will not compete in next week's Conference USA Tournament in Biloxi.
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