NORFOLK, Va. (Interstat) — Maverick Stallings launched a three-run, game-tying homer in the seventh inning and Old Dominion completed a dramatic comeback, scoring an unearned run in the 10th to defeat Richmond 10-9 on Wednesday at Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.

The Monarchs, who trailed 9-5 entering the bottom of the seventh, won their second straight to improve to 17-19. The Spiders fell to 20-17 with the walk-off loss, their second defeat in the teams’ two meetings this season.

The most pivotal sequence of the game unfolded in the seventh inning. After Richmond had extended its lead with a four-run fifth, highlighted by a two-run single from Michael Elko and a two-run homer from Dylan Winebrenner, and a solo homer in the sixth, Old Dominion mounted its rally.

Facing a four-run deficit, the Monarchs loaded the bases with one out in the seventh. A run-scoring single by Zedalis cut the lead to 9-6, setting the stage for Stallings. The second baseman, who had already driven in a run with a double in the third, connected on a three-run blast to center field, knotting the score at 9 and erasing Richmond’s once-comfortable advantage.

Stallings finished 3 for 4 with a home run, a double, four RBIs and two runs scored, breaking out of a recent slump to spearhead the Monarchs’ offense.

The game remained tied into the 10th. In the top half, Old Dominion reliever Tyler Stott worked a perfect inning, striking out one. In the bottom half, Old Dominion’s Holman was hit by a pitch and was replaced by pinch-runner Jay. A sacrifice bunt attempt by Felton resulted in a throwing error by Richmond pitcher Lawley, putting runners on second and third with one out.

After a fly out, Slater, who entered as a pinch-runner in the ninth, lined a single to left-center, scoring Jay for the winning run.

The comeback overshadowed strong relief work from both bullpens late. For Old Dominion, Nick Sulpizio provided four innings of one-run, one-hit ball with five strikeouts, and Jayce Park added 2 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Richmond received scoreless outings from Glenn Smith (3 1/3 IP, 0 H, 2 ER), Sam Young (1 IP, 2 K) and Justin Gay (1 IP, 3 K), but the Spiders’ staff issued 10 walks and hit three batters.

Richmond built its lead early, capitalizing on wildness from Old Dominion’s initial pitching. The Spiders scored two runs in the second on a walk, two hit batters and a wild pitch. They added two more in the fourth on an RBI double by Scanlon, before the five-run outburst in the fifth and sixth innings appeared to put the game out of reach.

Elko went 2 for 5 with two RBIs for Richmond, while Winebrenner homered and walked twice.

The victory gave Old Dominion a season split with its in-state foe after the Monarchs won the prior meeting 7-2 on March 25. Richmond will open a three-game series against Dayton at home on Friday. Old Dominion begins a three-game set against Georgia Southern, also at home, on Friday.