NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion baseball team gave up 16 hits in a 13-4 loss to UTSA on Sunday, dropping the Conference USA series in the process. Carter Trice and Andy Garriola hit solo home runs in the loss.
The Monarchs (22-8, 6-6 C-USA) scored first on a Robbie Petracci single in the bottom of the first, but the Roadrunners (20-11, 7-5) made the most of a Trice fielding error in the top half of the second, plating two runs to go ahead 2-1. Trice made amends for the error in the home half of the second with a sacrifice fly to drive in Thomas Wheeler, who led off the inning with a single and later stole second base before moving up to third on a groundout.
UTSA posted three runs in the third to take a 5-2 lead, an advantage it would not relinquish. Ian Bailey provided the big hit in the inning with a two-run double.
After giving up another run in the fifth to fall behind 6-2, the Monarchs received solo homers from Trice and Garriola in the fifth to pull to within a pair at 6-4. Trey Fisher and Brett Smith combined for a scoreless top of the sixth to keep the momentum in ODU's favor.
Another late-game rally appeared in the cards for Old Dominion as Petracci led off the sixth with a double, but UTSA starter Braden Davis retired the next three batters in order.
The Roadrunners cracked the game open with four runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth. Trice singled with one out in the seventh, but the UTSA bullpen combined to set down the final eight batters of the game.
Trice, Garriola and Petracci had two hits apiece to lead the Monarchs.
Sam Armstrong (2-1) took the loss for ODU with five gritty innings of work. The sophomore right-hander allowed six runs, four earned, on eight hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
Davis (2-1) picked up the win after allowing four runs on six hits over six innings.
The Monarchs travel to face No. 3 Virginia on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and stay on the road for three games at UAB Thursday through Saturday.
Baseball Drops Sunday Game with UTSA, 13-4
