Kurt Sinnen scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch and left-hander Adam Bainbridge worked 8.1 sharp innings Friday as Old Dominion defeated Rice 3-2 to open Conference USA play with a doubleheader sweep at Bud Metheny Complex, giving Monarchs coach Chris Finwood his 400th career victory.
The Monarchs won the opener 6-5 on a walkoff sacrifice fly by Vinnie Pasquantino.
Trailing 2-1 after five innings in the nightcap, ODU scored in the sixth and seventh to pull ahead. Zach Rutherford (Western Branch) had three hits and an RBI. Bainbridge pitched into the ninth, allowing six hits and two runs, before giving way to Craig Lopez, who got the final two outs for his second save.