NORFOLK, Va. – Kyle Battle capped a three-run ninth inning rally with a walk-off single as Old Dominion Baseball overcame an early 5-0 deficit to defeat Rutgers 8-7 Saturday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
Old Dominion (11-2) trailed 7-5 to begin the bottom of the ninth, but Jared Hancock led off the inning with a single and Chris Dengler followed with a single. Matt Burch knocked in pinch-runner Jay Tarkenton with ODU's third-straight single and Tommy Bell poked one through the right side to tie the score at seven. That set the stage for Battle as he knocked a base hit into right center to score Burch for the walk-off win.
Rutgers led throughout, as they scored four in the second, highlighted by a homer from Kevin Welsh. The Scarlet Knights added another in the fourth, but ODU began the comeback with two in the bottom of the inning. Robbie Petracci delivered a two-run single to make it a 5-2 Rutgers lead.
The Monarchs added two more in the sixth on a Matt Coutney RBI single, while Zach Coldsnow scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-4.
Rutgers added a run in the seventh but ODU followed with one in the eighth as Battle scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-5.
Rutgers added a run in the seventh but ODU scored three in the ninth with Battle's hit the game-winner.
Burch and Coutney each had two hits apiece for ODU, while Welsh was 3-for-5 for Rutgers.
Michael Parmentier earned the win in relief, pitching .2 innings, while Parker Scott took the loss for Rutgers.
ODU and Rutgers face off tomorrow in the series finale at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex at 1 p.m.
Battle Hits Walk-off as Monarchs Come From Behind to Top Rutgers, 8-7
Kyle Battle