NORFOLK – Michael Perez had two hits and two RBI, including a walk-off solo home run in the ninth inning, to lead host Old Dominion University to a 9-8 non-conference baseball victory against Longwood University on Wednesday night in Norfolk.

Jake Josephs gained the pitching win with the final inning of relief for the Monarchs (28-24).

Freshman Kyri Washington had three hits and five RBI, including a three-run home run, and junior Scott Burkett added two hits, including a two-run homer, to lead the visiting Lancers (24-26), while sophomore Aaron Myers took the mound setback in late relief.

Longwood has now completed its regular season and will next play in the Big South Conference Baseball Championship that begins next Tuesday, May 21 at the Liberty Baseball Stadium in Lynchburg.

Longwood scored two runs in the first inning to lead 2-0 after freshman Colton Konvicka (2-5) singled, stole second base and scored on a one-out RBI single by junior Alex Owens (3-4, RBI). Owens advanced on a single from Burkett (2-5, 2 RBI) before scoring on another run-scoring single by Washington (3-5, 5 RBI).

Old Dominion answered with four runs in the first to claim a 4-2 advantage.

The Monarchs collected five hits during the at-bat, including RBI doubles by Josh Eldridge (1-5, 2 RBI) and Perez (2-3, 2 RBI), along with run-scoring singles from P.J. Higgins (1-5, RBI) and Ben Slaton (2-4, RBI). ODU also added a run in the second inning to lead 5-2 when Ben Verlander (2-3) doubled with one out, stole second with two outs and scored unearned courtesy an error by the catcher.

Longwood tied it at 5-5 with three runs in the third inning as junior captain Matt Dickason (2-5) and Owens reached on back-to-back singles with one out and scored ahead of Washington, who hit a two-out, three-run homer to left center field.

Old Dominion answered with a run in the third as well to lead 6-5 when Austin McGowin (1-2, RBI) hit a one-out, solo home run. The Monarchs added another run in the fourth inning to make it 7-5 after a fielder's choice ball by Eldridge plated Conner Myers (0-2), who had walked with one out.

Longwood got a run back in the fifth inning to close to within 7-6, getting a one-out, RBI single from Washington that scored Dickason, who had led off with a single.

Old Dominion also scored again in the fifth to lead 8-6 following a run-scoring double by Jordan Negrini (2-3, RBI) that scored Josiah Burney (0-2), who had reached via a fielder's choice.

Longwood tied it again at 8-8 with two runs in the seventh inning courtesy the two-run homer by Burkett that scored Owens, who had doubled with one out. The Lancers threatened in the eighth inning, but stranded a one-out runner at third base.

Old Dominion won it in the bottom of the ninth on the lead-off, solo homer to left field by Perez.

Myers (3-2) pitched the final two-thirds of an inning for Longwood, allowing one hit and the one earned run with no walks and no strikeouts. Senior Kyler Morgan started and pitched the first 2.0 innings for the Lancers, yielding six hits and five runs, four earned, with no walks and one strikeout. Sophomore Brandon Vick was also among the eight pitchers used on a staff night with 2.0 innings, scattering one hit and two runs, both earned, with three walks and one strikeout.

Josephs (4-4) tossed the final scoreless inning for ODU, striking out all three batters he faced. Dean Ali started and pitched the first 3.0 innings for the Monarchs, who used four pitchers, yielding eight hits and five runs, all earned, with no walks and three strikeouts.