NORFOLK, Va. – A walk-off single by Kurt Sinnen was the difference as the Old Dominion Monarchs defeated the VMI Keydets, 6-5, Wednesday afternoon in Norfolk, Va.
After VMI (13-11) had rallied to tie the game in the top of the ninth, ODU's (18-4) Justin Hayes led off the bottom of the inning with a walk against Taylor Edens. Connor Myers bunted him to second, but Zach Rutherford flew out to center. Edens intentionally walked Nick Walker, and Chris Livers nearly ended the game with a single up the middle. Jacob Jaye saved the game for a moment with a diving stop, keeping the ball on the infield, but Sinnen followed with a single down the first-base line that ended the game.
The rally made a winner of Nick Hartman (3-1), who got the decision despite giving up three runs in the top of the inning. Edens dropped to 0-3 with the loss, as he was charged with two runs in 1 2/3 innings.
For the second straight day, the home team struck in the first. A triple for Rutherford and a sacrifice fly for Walker put the Monarchs up, 2-0, and an infield out by Hayes made that margin 3-0 two innings in.
The Keydets got on the board in the fourth, when Collin Fleischer singled with one out. He advanced to second on an infield out and scored on an RBI single by Matt Dunlevy, making it a 3-1 contest. ODU got that run right back in the bottom half, however, when Hayes plated a run with a sacrifice fly.
It remained 4-1 into the seventh, when the Keydets cut the margin to 4-2 on an RBI double by Nathan Eaton. Again, the Monarchs quickly responded, this time on a pinch-hit solo home run by Turner Bishop that pushed the margin back to three, 5-2.
The Keydets rallied in the ninth against Hartman. Matt Pita led off with a single, and Tyler Tharp walked. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and Pita scored on a ground ball, making it 5-3. One out later, Eaton singled home Tharp and a misplayed pickoff attempt moved him to second. David Geary then singled off the glove of a diving Rutherford to tie the game, 5-5, and set the stage for the walk-off in the bottom half.
Offensively, Eaton led the way for the Keydets with a 2-for-5, two-RBI day and Fleischer chipped in two hits, as well. No ODU player had more than a single hit.
VMI will return to action Friday, when the Keydets open SoCon play at Gray-Minor Stadium against The Citadel Bulldogs. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
Opener for ETSU-Western Carolina moved up
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – First pitch of Western Carolina’s Southern Conference opener against the ETSU Buccaneers on Thursday has been moved up to 3 p.m., officials at WCU announced Wednesday. Rain is forecasted to move into Western North Carolina early evening on Thursday, prompting the schedule alteration.
Western Carolina (9-11) hosts ETSU (10-10) for a three-game SoCon series at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. First pitch on Friday remains at 5 p.m. with Saturday’s series finale set to start at 2 p.m. All three contests are slated to be streamed live online, free of charge, through the SoCon Digital Network.