ODU Beats UNCW In Middle Game Of Season's Final Series

WILMINGTON, N.C. - Sophomore Jake McAloose drove in five runs on four hits as Old Dominion raced past No. 26 UNC Wilmington, 9-3, in Colonial Athletic Association baseball action Friday at Brooks Field.

With the win, the Monarchs clinched the fifth seed in next week's CAA Championship tournament and improved to 25-24 and 14-13 in the conference. The Seahawks, who have already clinched the top seed, dropped to 40-13-1 on the season and 24-4-1 in the CAA.

McAloose finished 4-for-4 at the plate with a pair of 2-run homers as ODU banged out 12 hits on the game. Seniors Jimmy Miles and David Burns and sophomore Max Most had two hits apiece. While homering twice, MCAloose also recorded a sacrifice bunt.

Senior starter Ryan Bergh, who ran his record to 6-5, was able to pitch into the sixth despite walking seven in earning the win. The CAA's earned run average leader allowed just three hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings. Freshman lefthander Kyle Hald earned the save, holding the Seahawks to a run on two hits over the final 3 1/3 innings.

Reigning CAA Co-Pitcher-of-the Week Jeff Hatcher suffered his first loss of the season to slide to 6-1. Hatcher allowed four runs, just two earned, on eight hits and he did not walk a batter over his six innings of work.

Sophomore Mike Rooney and Rhett Miller each had two hits for the Seahawks, who have just 11 hits in their last three games and saw their team batting average dip to .311.

The Monarchs wasted no time getting on the board against Hatcher in the first and taking a two-run lead. Miles and Most opened the game with consecutive singles and both moved up on a fielding error by Rooney. The first run came across on a passed ball and the second on an infield hit by McAloose when Hatcher failed to cover first base in time on a ground ball down the first base line.

Senior Mark Carver answered for UNCW with a sacrifice fly to cut it to 2-1 in the bottom of the inning. Freshman Alex Hill, who scored on the fly ball out, led off the inning with a walk and senior Daniel Hargrave followed with a walk of his own. A sacrifice bunt moved both up for Carver.

The Seahawks evened the game at 2-all on Hargrave's sacrifice fly to center field in the fifth. Rooney led off the inning with a single and came around to score on the fly ball to center. UNCW had a chance to break the tie later in the inning with runners at second and third with one out, but Carver struck out on a slider and senior Nate Hall lifted a fly ball to center to end the rally.

ODU answered in the sixth when Burns laced a 1-2 double to right and McAloose homered to left center to give the Monarchs a 4-2 lead.

ODU was able to push its lead to 7-2 in the eighth with three runs, one earned, off Seahawk relievers Jesse Haney, Cameron Roth and Allen Flood. Miles keyed the inning with a bases-loaded 2-out single through the leftside.

McAloose struck again in the ninth with another 2-run homer to left center, this time off reliever Brett Braxton, as the Monarchs closed out their scoring with a 9-2 lead.

Rooney hit his first career home run in the ninth for the Seahawks to complete scoring.

The Seahawks wrap up their regular season on Saturday with a 2 p.m. start against Old Dominion.

Notes: The top six hitters in the UNCW lineup combined to go 0-15 ... Mark Carver drove in his 77th run of the season ... Georgia State, Towson and Northeastern are still battling for the final spot in the CAA tournament ... UNCW will honor its 13 seniors Saturday prior to the 2 p.m. game.
-Courtesy UNCW Sports Information

-- Jesse Jones, CAPE FEAR SPORTS REPORT