May 23, 2008

Conley leads Towson past Old Dominion

By Stuart Smith

CollegeBaseballInsider.com

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Six-seed Towson (29-27) posted nine runs in the third inning and scored in five of the next seven frames to cruise to a 17-10 win over fifth-seeded Old Dominion (25-27).

Towson outfielder Brian Conley went 3 for 4 with a grand slam in the third inning to pace the Tigers. The senior added a RBI single in the eighth to finish with five RBI.

Old Dominion got on top early, scoring one run in the first on an Anthony Shawler double that plated Bryan Cipolla. The Monarchs added two runs in the second, one on a Chris Keenan single and the other on a Jimmy Miles sacrifice fly to right field.

ODU hurler Ryan Bergh retired the first seven batters he faced but stumbled in the third. After getting third baseman Steve Yarsinsky to ground out, Bergh bobbled a bunt attempt, allowing Austin Harclerode to reach. A walk, a single and a hit batter loaded the bases for Conley, who sent Bergh’s 2-1 offering over the center field wall. Matt Collins followed with a single, then first baseman Greg Furmanek drove Bergh’s 0-1 pitch over the wall for a two-run homer. Kyle Hald replaced Bergh on the mound and walked the first two batters he faced. Helmick and Natoli had back-to-back RBI singles for the Tigers, making the score 9-3 in favor of Towson. Hald got Kevin Collins to fly out to end the inning.
 

The teams traded runs in the fifth. ODU scored two in the sixth, but Towson responded by scoring three in the bottom half, keeping the Tigers ahead, 12-6. The Tigers scored one in the seventh and the teams traded three runs in the eighth. ODU scored one run in the top of the ninth to end the scoring.

“They (ODU) have good hitters in their lineup. I thought we had to just keep going because there are no sure things here. We have a good hitting team and I’m glad to see this happen away from our ballpark,” said Towson head coach Mike Gottlieb.

Towson’s Spencer Patton pitched six innings of relief for the Tigers, striking out three.

ODU’s Ryan Bergh lasted just 2.2 innings, giving up seven runs, only four earned.

Towson returns to action on Friday with the opponent and time yet to be determined.

Old Dominion dropped six of its last eight games on the season.