NORFOLK, Va. - Junior lefthander Kyle Hald pitched a complete game six-hitter to lead Old Dominion University (17-25, 5-8) to a 9-1 Colonial Athletic Association victory over the Tigers (12-28, 6-10) before a crowd of 1,003 at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex in the opening game of their three-game weekend series on Friday night.
Hald, who leads the CAA with seven victories, gave up only six singles while as he pitched his fourth complete game of the season. He walked three and struck out eight.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. With one out, freshman catcher Andrew Parker drew a walk. He advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Moments later, freshman leftfielder Kurt Wertz singled to centerfield driving in Parker to give Towson a 1-0 lead.
After shutting out the Monarchs on two hits through the first two innings, senior righthander Austin Hurd ran into trouble in the bottom of the third inning. Sophomore centerfielder Kenny Stoneback led off the inning with a triple to left centerfield. Junior leftfielder Donnie Corsner followed with a ground ball to second base. When junior second baseman Chris Wychock made a throwing error, Corsner reached base and Stoneback scored.
After junior catcher Edgar Hernandez was retired on a popup to the catcher, Hurd hit senior Jake McAloose and sophomore Chris Baker with pitches to load the bases.
Hurd struck out senior Chris Buss for the second out of the inning. Sophomore second baseman Joshua Wright lined a two-run single to right, giving ODU a 3-1 lead. When senior first baseman John Malbon followed with a two-run double down the left field line, the Monarchs owned a 5-1 lead. Hurd struck out junior Nathan Hartman to end the inning.
After giving up five runs in the third inning, Hurd bounced back and shut down ODU until the sixth inning. With two outs, Stoneback singled to rightfield. When Corsner doubled to leftfield, Stoneback scored for a 6-1 advantage. Hurd ended the threat by striking out Hernandez.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Monarchs scored three runs to put the game out of reach. McAloose singled to left, starting the rally. Baker doubled to centerfield, driving in McAloose and knocking Hurd out of the game. Sophomore righthander Tyler Austin relieved Hurd. A sacrifice bunt by Buss moved Baker to third base. After Wright was hit by a pitch, Malbon hit a two-run single to give ODU a 9-1 lead. After Hartman reached base on an infield single, Austin retired the next two hitters to escape the jam.
In the eighth inning, the Tigers put two runners on base when Parker and junior shortstop Nick Natoli singled. However, Hald retired senior rightfielder Kevin Collins on a ground ball to second base.
Hurd, who had won his last two starts, allowed four earned runs on nine hits in six innings of work. He walked one batter and recorded a career high 11 strikeouts.
Malbon led the Monarchs' 11-hit attack with two hits and four runs batted in.
Parker led the Tigers with two hits. He also walked as he reached base three times. Junior third baseman Austin Harclerode had a single to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.
Towson and Old Dominion will continue their three-game series on Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
