ECU-ODU

By ECU Sports Information
Published in Sports on April 12, 2012 1:48 PM

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GREENVILLE -- Old Dominion scored an unearned run in the top of the ninth inning and withstood an East Carolina rally in the bottom half of the frame to claim a 3-2 victory Wednesday evening at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium.

Tied at 2-all, the Monarchs' Chris Baker reached on an infield single to spark the game-winning rally. Two outs later, Brent Frazier drew a walk against Pirate reliever Andy Smithmyer. ODU's Shawn Sizemore popped up in the infield, but ECU couldn't make the play and Baker crossed home to make it 3-2.

Tanner Merritt relieved Smithmyer and picked off Sizemore at first to end the inning.

Senior catcher Zach Wright started the ECU ninth with a single up the middle -- his second hit of the evening. One out later, Jack Reinheimer followed with a screaming shot to second base, which caromed off the chest of Brandon Shelton, which put runners at first and second with just one out.

Philip Clark reached on a fielder's choice as a Monarch player fielded the chopper in front of the mound and fired to second for the force out. Pinch-hitter Nick Thompson stepped to the plate and flied out to right field for the final out, securing the win for ODU, which exited 12-21 overall this season.

Brandon Smith (5-1) earned the win for the Monarchs, tossing three scoreless innings of relief while walking just one and striking out a trio of Pirates.

The No. 24-ranked Pirates dropped to 23-9-1.