SAN ANTONIO –Will Morgan's double in the seventh cleared the bases and fueled a series-clinching victory for Old Dominion at Roadrunner Field Sunday.
With the 9-6 loss, UTSA finished the first half of Conference USA play at 6-9 and 15-21 overall while the Monarchs improve to 21-14 overall and 5-10 in league play.
ODU pushed across the first run of the game when Ryan Teschko's ground out to short allowed Andy Garriolato score from third. With one out in the fourth, Garriola lifted a fly ball to center field that turned around Ryan Stacy, landing safely on the warning track and allowing Garriola to slide into third with a triple.
UTSA quickly responded with two in the bottom of the frame.Dylan Rock opened the frame with a strikeout but reached when the pitch went past the catcher. Back-to-back doubles by Nick Thornquist and Chase Keng gave the home side a 2-1 edge.
Without the benefit of a hit in the fifth, the Roadrunners pushed across another run. Bryan Arias and Brian Sturges opened the frame with consecutive walks and Rock loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch. Thornquist picked up an RBI with the third base-on-balls in four batters.
Senior left hander Bradley Griggs recorded his longest career outing and made just his third career start. He allowed one run on five hits, not issuing a walk and striking out two in five-plus innings of work. Despite leaving with a 3-1 lead in the sixth, he had to settle for a no-decision.
An RBI single by Dylan Sturges in the home half of the inning pushed UTSA out in front once again at 4-3.
With two-outs and two on in the top of the seventh, Roadrunners reliever Jake Harrison coaxed a ground ball but an errant throw allowed the tying run to score. Ryan Teschko was hit by a pitch, loading the bases and bringing Morgan to the plate. His double into the right center gap gave ODU an 8-4 advantage and they never relinquished it.
UTSA cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the frame before stranding two runners in scoring position. In the eighth, Sturges led off with his team leading 15thdouble but was left at third.
ODU padded the margin with three in the top of the ninth and the Roadrunners went down in order to end the game.
Tuesday marks the start of a four-game, five-day road trip for UTSA. First pitch against Texas A&M Corpus Christi is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday. The team moves on to Birmingham, Alabama for a three-game weekend series with UAB Thursday through Saturday.
- UTSA -
