Rutgers scored its lone run with a two-out rally in the first inning when freshman Steve Nyisztor (Toms River, N.J.) hit a triple to left field and junior Jaren Matthews (Teaneck, N.J.) got him home on the next play with an RBI single to right field.

 

The Scarlet Knights threatened to add to their lead in the fifth with back-to-back one-out singles from Michael Lang (Dumont, N.J.) and Pat Biserta (Pt. Pleasant, N.J.) to put runners on the corners, but Hald got out of the jam with an inning-ending double play.

 

Old Dominion tied it up with a run in the bottom half of the fifth as Kenny Stoneback delivered a double to left field to bring home the tying score. The Monarchs threatened for more in the frame, but Hill worked out of the jam.

 

A leadoff double by John Malbon in the sixth to put the go-ahead run in scoring position and Rutgers went to its bullpen two batters later to bring in sophomore Nathaniel Roe (Plainfield, N.J.). ODU’s Chris Buss singled to center field to bring home a run and the Monarchs used two more singles in the frame to bring home another run and take the two-run advantage at 3-1.

 

ODU held on for the victory as Hald (4-1) didn’t allow a runner past first base in the final four innings in the complete-game performance. He allowed nine hits and just the one run to earn the win. Hill (0-4) worked 5.1 innings and struck out six with just the two runs allowed in the loss. Roe worked part of the sixth, while senior Kevin Lillis (Fair Haven, N.J.) finished the game with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief including three strikeouts.

 

Nyisztor led Rutgers’ nine-hit attack with three hits on the night.

 

The Scarlet Knights and Monarchs will continue their series with a 4 p.m. game tomorrow. Senior righty Casey Gaynor (Toms River, N.J.) will be on the mound for RU against sophomore righty Ben Tomchick for ODU.