AUBURN, Ala. – Old Dominion Baseball scored nine runs late in the game, highlighted by a Kainen Jorge three-run home run in the eighth inning, and the Monarchs rallied for an 11-9 win over No. 22 Auburn on Saturday night at Plainsman Park.
ODU trailed 9-2 through six innings, but the Monarchs (4-8) made a late charge that started with five runs in the top of the seventh. Singles by Jack Slater and Tahraun Hammond and a walk by Efrain Morales loaded the bases. Zach Leite then came through with a one-out single to center field, scoring Slater. Jorge then drove in another run with a base hit through the left side of the defense, and Kyle Edwards followed with a two-out, bases-clearing double to left to cut the deficit to 9-7.
The Monarchs weren’t done though. In their next turn at the plate, Hammond singled to right field and moved up to second base on a passed ball. With two outs, Luke Waters brought in Hammond with a single to center and a balk allowed Waters to take second. Leite earned a base on balls, and Jorge connected on a 1-1 pitch, driving it to left center for a three-run blast that put the Bud Bombers in front, 11-9.
Bailey Matela came in to face the Tigers (12-3) in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Norfolk native struck out the leadoff batter, but the next batter reached on a fielding error and Matela issued a walk to put two runners on. He induced a fly out to center for the second out before handing over the ball to Kellen Davis. Another walk loaded the bases, but Davis got out of the inning with a ground ball to Edwards at shortstop.
Davis then took care of the Tigers in order in the ninth. After striking out the first batter, the next two were retired on a fly out to center and a line out to left.
ODU opened up the scoring in the second inning. Jorge walked and advanced to third on a Ryan Thomas single to the gap in right. Edwards hit into a 5-4-3 double play, but the hosts conceded the run. Auburn pulled even on an Ike Irish RBI double to left center in the bottom of the inning, then pulled ahead 4-1 in the third with a Deric Fabian RBI ground out and a Cade Belyeu two-RBI single to center field.
In the top of the fourth, Jorge scored from third on an Edwards fielder’s choice, but the Tigers answered with another five runs in the bottom of the inning. Eric Snow drove in a pair with a double to left center before Cooper McMurray followed with a two-run homer to right center. Later in the inning, Irish drew a bases-loaded walk to push the hosts’ lead to 9-2.
Saturday’s victory marked ODU’s biggest comeback win since the then-No. 25 Monarchs trailed FIU, 9-1 on May 14, 2017 in a rubber match in Norfolk. Old Dominion stormed back with nine runs in the bottom of the seventh inning of that game. Nick Walker hit a grand slam before Turner Bishop hit a go-ahead two-run blast and ODU came out on top, 11-10.
Marco Levari (1-1) received the win after retiring two of the three batters he faced and issuing one walk. Davis earned his first save of the year with one strikeout and one base on balls in 1.1 innings out of the pen. Dylan Brown was tagged for nine runs on as many hits. He struck out five and issued one free pass in a 3.1-inning start.
Jorge finished a perfect 4-for-4 on the night. He added a double, four RBIs, four runs and a walk to his totals. Edwards (1-for-5) also had four RBIs with a double and Hammond (3-for-5) scored twice.
The win sets up a rubber match against the Tigers. Due to inclement weather in the forecast, Sunday’s first pitch has been moved back to 4:30 p.m. EST.