NORFOLK, Va. – Robert Cook struck out five batters in three innings to earn his first career save and Old Dominion University Baseball hung on for a 7-5 win over St. John's on Saturday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Ballpark.
St. John's scored a pair of runs off of Ben Moore and Cook in the seventh inning, but Cook slammed the door on the Red Storm (1-1) over the final two frames. Making his first career appearance for ODU, the transfer from Virginia Wesleyan did not allow a hit in his three innings, with five strikeouts and three walks.
St. John's scored in the first on a Tate Ballestro RBI single but the Monarchs (1-1) tied the score in the bottom half without the benefit of a hit. Chris Dengler led off with a walk and moved to third on an error by the first baseman on a ball hit by Hunter Fitz-Gerald. Jake Ticer then followed with an RBI groundout that scored Dengler.
ODU took its first lead of the game in the second when Alex Bouche led off with a walk and moved to third on a single by Tyler Wheeler. Bouche scored on a sac fly from Luke Waters.
The Monarchs put up a three-spot in the third inning to take a 5-1 lead. Fitz-Gerald delivered a one-out single and scored on a double by Ticer. Ticer moved to third on a wild pitch, Camden Grimes walked and stole second. Bouche drilled a two-run single down the left field line for a 5-1 ODU lead.
The Red Storm scored single runs in the fourth and fifth to cut the ODU lead to 5-3.
ODU tacked on a pair of runs in the sixth. Bouche worked a one-out walk and Thomas Wheeler singled him to third. Wheeler and Bouche perfectly executed a double steal to score Bouche, and Tyler Wheeler doubled in Thomas Wheeler for a 7-3 Monarch lead.
St. John's scored two runs in the top of the seventh on a bases loaded walk and a double play, but Cook got a strikeout to end the threat.
Jake Ticer and Tyler Wheeler had two hits apiece to lead the Monarch offense.
ODU and St. John's complete the three-game series tomorrow at noon.