NORFOLK, Va. - Kyle Battle hit a go-ahead triple and Tommy Bell drove in Battle with a single to put Old Dominion University Baseball on top 3-1 in the eighth inning and Noah Dean slammed the door on Rutgers in the ninth to lift the Monarchs to a game one series one on Friday at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
Old Dominion (10-2) scored first in the fourth inning on an RBI ground out and Rutgers (5-7) tied the score in the seventh inning on a home run by Mike Myisztor. The score remained tied, following a 45 minute rain delay, until the eight when ODU scored a pair to take the lead for the final tallly.
Starting pitchers Hunter Gregory for ODU and Harry Rutkowski of Rutgers matched each other in a pitcher's duel. Gregory went six shutout innings, allowing four hits, three walks and six strikeouts, while Rutkowski pitched six innings, allowing two hits and one run, walking two and striking out five.
Noah Dean earned the win for the Monarchs, pitching 1.1 hitless innings, while striking out three. Kyle Muller picked up the loss for Rutgers.
The two teams are back in action tomorrow at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex at 2 p.m.
Eighth Inning Rally Lifts Baseball Over Rutgers, 3-1
Tommy Bell