NORFOLK, Va. – A Jared Dupere two-run home run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning lifted Northeastern (3-3) over the Old Dominion baseball team, 6-5 on Saturday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
Trailing 5-3, the Huskies fought back in the ninth inning. Scott Holzwasser drove in a run before Dupere's homer, which gave NU a 6-5 lead.
"Northeastern got the big home run in the ninth to win it today. It was another good game and we had a chance in the seventh to break it open and didn't get it done," explained ODU head coach Chris Finwood. "When you walk two guys in the ninth inning you usually get beat and we have to do a better job of throwing strikes out of the bullpen. I thought Nick Pantos gave us another good start and that's twice we have blown a win for Pantos because of walks from freshman pitchers. It's a hard learned lesson. Northeastern has a really good ball club and we will have to put our big boy pants on tomorrow and find a way to win a tough series."
The Huskies struck first, plating two runners following an ODU error and a wild pitch in the top of the third inning.
ODU (7-3) quickly responded in the bottom of the third when Kyle Battle led off with a base hit. The bases quickly loaded after Kenny Levari walked and Carter Trice was hit by a pitch. Andy Garriola brought home Battle, Levari and Trice with a grand slam, notching his first home run of the season. Robbie Petracci added another run for the Monarchs with a solo home run, putting ODU on top, 5-2 after three innings of play.
Northeastern tacked on a run in the fourth to close the deficit, 5-3.
Jake Gigliotti earned the win for Northeastern, putting together two scoreless frames for the Huskies.
ODU starter Pantos struck out five Huskies in six innings of work.
Up Next
ODU will return back to the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex on Sunday, March 7 to take on the Huskies one last time. First pitch is slated for noon.
Late Home Run Lifts Northeastern Past Baseball Monarchs, 6-5
